Mar 14 08:30:05 108 PA - Dino Hunt, 2nd Trip

From Chronicles

Title:
Rasputin’s Dino Hunt, 2nd Try.

Date:
Wed Mar 14 08:30:05 108 PA

Players:
Rasputin
Johnson
Valeriya
Taz
Bartholemew

Kingsdale - Yakov's Deli' Rasputin's Deli is a lively place, normally a short man is behind the counter serving up orders of beef, brisket, chicken, pork, sausage, fish and just about every other type of meat product you can imagine. Rasputin's is a well known secret to low, medium and high class people of all type. Rasputin has all sorts of customer's coming and going at all times of day or night. He isn't open 24-hrs, but he might as well be.

As you walk into the Deli, next to the door is a small lunch counter which faces out into the street. Opposite to the deli counter are four small booths. Both of these locations serve as eating space for those that choose to grab a quick bite of food or one of Yakov's and Rasputin's famous five meat monster deli sandwiches. Most people don't use these booths, but the lunch counter is constantly being used, as it provides a great people watching vantage.

It is 9:30 in the evening give or take, and as usual the light is on at Yakov's Deli. But, unlike normal there is a little sign on the door, written in Dragonese, Euro, Russian, and really, really bad American, "Closed for Later Dinner. Dino Hunters Only, Please." Rasputin has camping gear, hunting gear, and all sorts of stuff scattered along every table in the place. He is inspecting armor, and clothing and weapons. Muttering to himself and double checking a large list he has on a notepad.

Valeriya had seen the notices written in odd laguages about town but she didnt cart to read them until another in the same hand stood before her on the deli door. Muttering a dark phrase she lets her arcane talent translate for her before nodding slightly and continuing on her course. She steps in and looks around to see who might be hiring and in so doing glosses over the dwarf at first.

A minute later, the door opens again to admit a perpetually armored figure. Johnson strides inside, his thick-soled boots squeeking a touch for the water he tracks in, and with a word the muddied water runs off the armor to leave him dry and clean. Leaving a small puddle just inside the door. Shrugging a shoulder, Johnson eyes Valeriya, and then points at Rasputin, while saying in Dragonese, "The little one."

Rasputin looks up from his work. At the same time his head and eyes flip up, his right hand goes to his holster then he relaxes and he chuckles, "Little one, da?" He grins and now his right hand tugs his beard, "Hello. We beink closed for dinner tonighs, dery sorries. Dinner closed all weeks, actually, dery sorries."

"I thought this planet spoke common.." Valeriya mutters before saying another dark phrase to translate her voice and hearing as well. "So I saw. But it looks like you are closed to go for a bit of hunting yes? I enjoy hunting." She notes in perfect russian from Rasputin's perspective. and in the native tongue of everyone else.

"I need to improve this," Johnson notes, clacking a fist against his armored chest. "Dinosaurs are based on theropod and sauropod designs from early evolution. How dangerous can they be when faced with modern equipment?" He tilts his head to the right, and adds, "I can keep your costs down. Ensure low repairs all around."

And yet more people showing up, or at least Taz is, one very big person. He has to duck down and open the door, twisting sideways, practically having to get down on his knees and scoot into place. "Yo." He rumbles, "What's this I hear about huntin' an' dino's?" He rumbles with a good natured smile even as he continues to try to get in... without causing damage to the door frame or the business. It ain't easy being green... er big sometimes.

Bartholemew grins at the Russian, a half smoked cigar clenched between his teeth unlit, as he enters the establishment, "This where ya sign up for the huntin trip? Must be if'n closed for dinner." By the looks of it he appears geared up for a hunt, minus the Rifle at the moment.

Rasputin blinks at all of the people, questions and group of hunters. He tugs his beard and smiles, "Da, da. Welcomes, welcomes. Dis da placink, mink packink now." He speaks in American, but broken as hell. He tugs dhis beard, "Dough, you are all seeink mink ad, da? I payink 7500 up front. No promises of more. Buttink, lastink time I put together trip like dhis everyone making around 20K totals. Dis in and beink out." He looks around the room, "Dinos are beink tough, infused with da rifts and ley lines. Dhough, modern weapons only ways to be brink dhem down. Some quick, fast. Others lumbrink and nasty. Da ideas, is net to beink shootink all meats and hides up. Otherwise monies after net as good. Da?"

"So its better to cut them down with a clean blade?" Valeriya asks the dwarf in reply with a gesture to her large sword. "I can go along with that." She agrees before turning to take in the others that have arrived to volunteer. "Plenty of bait too it would appear."

Johnson remains impassive at the discussion of strategy. Saying in Dragonese, "We'll know more when we see the terrain," he points out, head turning back to eye the huge man trying to squeeze inside. He points at the titan juicer, and asks, "How much does--" before pausing, and flicking a switch on his chest to get American. "How much you armor cost?"

Bartholemew smiles crossing his arms across his chest satisfied in finding the right place. He looks to the others gathered, seeming to maybe be sizing everyone up for this type of venture. "I'm not much of a swordsman, but I can keep the laser fire controlled to a specific point ta ground the big beasties."

Taz answers in Dragonese, "'Bout a hundred ten, hundred thirty K or so fer the good stuff." He answers Johnson, "Repair it m'self when need ta." Then he switches back to American as well as he manages to get into the restaurant, now crouched down on the balls of his feet, elbows resting on his knees as he hulks. "Ain't foun' nothin' I can't beat ta death wit' m'bare hands if don' want it shot ta shit." Then he hmms, looking thoughtful. "I'll be bait." He grins at that, a deep rumbling chuckle following that comment.

Rasputin looks around the room and nods, "Da, goodink. Now, to be clears, 7500 is goodink for all? I will be sharink, after vehicle expenses, anythink I make. Split betweens us. Da. Dis good? Net wantink anyones to beink shortink now, and plannink on big score. Net knowink if it will be happenink." He looks around, "Da, I'm packink up will be leavink first think mornink. Dis goodink for all of you, da?" He tugs his beard as he pauses, "Oh, and we do be passink near Whykin, buttink last time no problems. One never knows dhough, if we do be haivnk CS problems. Me turnink around and runnink like hell out of bat." He nods to himself, "Any questions?"

"7500 is plenty to book my time fore a week. I'tll be my responcibility to ensure the time is well spent to earn me more." Vaelirya replies to the dwarf agreeably before turning back to Tz with a smirk. "An agreeable coworker. This planet is getting better. Slowly."

"Bring big gun," Johnon's monotone speaker replies at Taz. "Is better Valeriya and me up front. Draw crowd. I confuse, seperate, trap most. Those get to me, she takes with sword. Others you take from distance safely. If get past or around us, then you keep big lizard off softer group. Magic cheaper replace than armor." He shrugs. "But maybe not possible. Depend on terrain. Best see first, then plan."

Bartholemew shakes his head, "Sounds good to me." giving a grin as he plucks the cigar from his mouth to let it rest between his two fingers. "Do we need our own transport or we ridin with you? Thats all I need to know for now."

"Just a couple questions." Taz rumbles in his deep voice before he shoots the woman in the plastic man armor a grin and a wink, "Names. Callsigns. To tell all you squishies apart. Second, frequency for radio chatter." He then hmms, "Make that three questions. Anyone have vehicle big enough I can ride on top of? Otherwise, long long walk. Can hold on good, prolly not fit inside." He grins amusedly at that.

Rasputin chuckles soflty and nods to everyone, "Goodink, good." He tugs his beard and follows,"To answerink, mink name is Rasputin. Some knows, some net know." He scans everyone again, "Mink rentink a hovertruck, dis outside. Solid vehicle, but net luxury. Havink enough room for all of us," he looks to Taz, "Buttink you will have to ride in bed of truck, da?" He thinks a moment, "Terran is mostly forests and some clearinks and some swamps. Mink goink dhere I wentink lastink time, buttink perhaps further. Depends, da." He is about to stop dhen says, "Radio, uh, mink set to channel 42," he pauses and looks at his note book, "Encrpt code 1234," He looks up not understanding anything wrong with that encrypt code. "Any others questions?"

Valeriya nods pulling her helmet from her hip to set it at that. This of course disturbs the red lizard that was sleeping there. It hisses at her in annoyance before scampering up to her shoulder where it seems cvomofrtable enough if still perturbed. "Got it." She says to Rasputin before considering Johnson with a shake of her head. "If the big guy wants to wrestle with the Giant lizards then I say let him. Plenty to go around."

"Don't want all profit repairing that armor," Johnson replies. "Job pays hundred grand. Armor worth more. Best bet is keep all dinosaurs away from us. Handle at distance. Nobody attack by hand. Nobody hurt. My name Johnson. Have good radio," he reaches back and taps the antenna over his right shoulder, "Here. Long range. Just say Johnson on radio."

Bartholemew looks about to everyone, "Anyone needs, you can call me Bart." setting the radio frequency mentioned.

Taz sets to the frequency and he chuckles, shaking his head at the encryption code. "Fun." He rumbles and then shrugs, "I'll bring Betty, my baby but she spits out lotta ammo... tear up hides real good and I hit just as hard with my bare hands." He then looks towards the exit, taking note of names when they are given as he looks at Miss Plastic, "Name miss? Callsign? How known."

Valeriya nods sluightly to Rasputin beofre turning back to Taz. "Valeriya, or Val, and you?" She asks, sizing up the rather large fellow with a content smile.

"Gigantor!" Taz says with a deep laugh afterwards and then he winks, "Nah, am Taz." He rumbles to Val and the others, waiting for the way to be open long enough for the big well, huge guy to be able to get out. "Ya, riding in the bed is fine." He rumbles to Rasputin, "Got a helmet for a reason." He then nods, "And I'll be here in the mornin'." He chuckles again, waiting and waiting until he can finally make his way through the door when there is enough time, but until then... he looks to Val and studies her, "Nice ta meetcha Val." He then looks at her feet, studying them for a few long moments, "You have hooves?" He asks, curious, since that's what the armor looks like, not derogatory but more almost childlike innocence in the question.

Bartholemew listens between everyone and chuckles at Taz's response to Val. "Well then, looks like I'll be here bright an early 'fore the sun come up. While I'm here tho, you wouldn't happen to have any coffee brewin back there? Could go for a cup right now."

Johnson replies, "Sounds good. I have no more gear to collect. Ready any time." He shrugs and glances at his wrist display, punching a few buttons before dialing in his radio frequency and wandering for the door. Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da." Rasputin goes and gets a to-go cup of coffee and hand sit to Bart. "Da, OK. So we will beink meetin. Greats." He looks around and smiles. Then goes back to his prep-work getting ready.

ZOOM to Spot TP takes Place.

N America - River Trail

This is a small trail that follows the west side of the River. The river is about a quarter of a mile across, and runs fairly fast. Many small creatures can be seen running around drinking water, and just playing like any normal creature does.

The path narrows and becomes fairly dangerious. As it curles down the side of a nasty set of rapids in the large river. The path still exists, but is just dangerious to follow.

Everyone is nice and comfy in the old hovertruck. And by comfy, I mean squished. It is a long haul down the trail, as it gets more and more narrow. Rasputin is a pilot, though the trail isn't designed really for the speeds at which Rasputin wants to travel. He is flying down the trail, not stopping for anyone or any think. He speeds up actually to near max around Whykin, not wanting to be delayed for any of the CS nonsense which might happen, but soon enough he has crossed that imaginary line in the proverbial sand and you are all 'safely' into the Federation of Magic region of control. Rasputin has been making fairly good time along the way, just keeping to the road like trail mostly. Not worrying too much about knocking down brush, saplings or even minor trees. After about 4 hours of this cramped travel, he starts to slow down and winds down for a quick break, "Mink needink to takink break, anyone else?"

Taz is relatively comfortable actually, the advantage of being in the back of the truck is the titan juicer gets to stretch out and relax, at least for now. Coming back he'll have to ride with the 'harvest' but for now, it's comfortable. He has brought a rifle, along with his pistol and pair of swords, one immensely huge chainsword and one normal sized longsword which looks more like a dagger or short-sword at best to Taz. "Sure." He rumbles over the radio. Of course the only way he survived the trip so far was by doing general inspections on his equipment, and because his harness has been tossing tranquilizers into his blood stream every now and again to keep him relaxed. Even still, it's not exactly pleasant. As soon as the the truck stops the titan is bounding up and out of the truck to 'stretch his legs' as it were.

Valeriya shrugs slightly as the dorrs is opened to offer them a bit of reash air and pace to move ones limbs. "Not to uncomfortable yet but i'll take the opportunity anyway." She voices before extrcating herself from the vehicle. Outside she takes a moment to pull out a sandwish and eat some of it casually.

Johnson is fairly quiet, actually. He's been curled up, eyes forward, with only a tiny pack to his name. Too small for food, at least. As the call for a break is made, he looks up and says nothing, that goggled helmet turning left, and right, before peering down through a window at the world below.

Bartholemew nods, looking relieved to be able to get out a minute to stretch his legs. During the trip he's been making sure his two rifles, a C-12 heavy assault rifle and a Northern Gun Particle Beam Rifle, are locked and loaded and ready to go. He gives a broad stretch moving around to the side of the hover truck then lights up his stogie and puffs a few times to get it going, his C-12 slung over one shoulder. "So how far we got to go Boss?"

It is now around 10:30 in the morning. The terrain has changed from mostly open prairie and sparse forests to a much more dense forest and closed trails and sparse clearings. Rasputin had apparently needed to meet the call of nature, but that done he is just doing an inspecting of the hovercraft as everyone loosens up again before you all climb back in and take off again. He answers Bart's question as he does this, "Dwell, we havink been on the road for perhapsink 4 hours now, da. After dhis break, I'll be pickink up over forest line. Dhen travelink more in south-east directions. Dhen at abouts, perhapsink three'clock or so's we will be stoppink for da day to be settink up camps and be doink some scoutink, da?"

Taz looks again at Valeriya's 'hooves', looking at them curiously for a long few minutes, yes, he is staring. At least until he is distracted by the lighting of the stogie and the smoke there-from. He looks at the C-12, nods to himself, "Reliable rifles." He rumbles and then checks his 557 VFALR and makes sure it's clip is loaded, the rifle seeming almost small and childlike in Taz's hands but he seems to know how to use it at least. Otherwise he looks around, walking a bit and avoiding the trees before he turns his attention to the boss man and nods, waiting for the break to be over before jumping into the back of the truck and contemplating a ration bar.

Valeriya smirks at Taz's stare, shaking her head. "They are just boots. My legs got used to them in low gravity spacefaring and now they are whats comfortable to me." She explains to him with a slight smirk before tucking her sandwhich away. She seems more comfortable with checking her weapons in open spaces as she does so during the break. Checking her Wilks backu and NTI pulse pistol

Uncurling then, the armored figure climbs from the cab and peers skyward, staring up at the morning light for perhaps a minute. He looks almost ... grey. The color being seemed from him by the diffuse light of the coming day. Then without further preamble, Johnson trots off into the woods, presumably to do what anyone does after a few hours cooped in a car. When he returns, weaponless, he says, "Ley line to north. Not so close to be trouble, but keep mind eye."

Bartholemew nods to Ras as he tells the time schedule, then looks to the big guy Taz, "It's not a bad rifle, plenty of em round these parts. Took mine from the Emperor's neice's nephew's second cousin twice removed roommate's brother, missed his funeral though, ashame." he chuckles, "Me and a buddy snuck up on him and his buddy on our way to Kingsdale. Whatcha got there? Don't believe I've seen one of those. They pack a good punch?"

Rasputin pops his neck a little bit, having still not put on his armor's helmet just yet. Apparently not feeling danger is upon any of you het, he is just driving at this point right. He tugs his beard at Johnson's comment and nods. Of course, if he had his helmet on he couldn't tug his beard. Having verified the hover truck is still good to go, and taking a small bite of some sort of jerky he looks to all of you and says, "So everyone readies?" he tripple checks the vehicle by walking around and says, "Mount up, da." And climbs into the pilot's seat.

Taz chuckles, "Bout the same as one of the C-12's." Taz seems to forget to sound stupid when talking tech, "Single shot, pulse burst like the C-12. Only takes long clips, decent amount of shots per clip though. Fairly standard two thousand foot effective range before the beam diffuses or is distorted by the curvature of the planet and it's rotation. Best thing about this," He looks down at his rifle, "Is it is variable frequency, two dozen frequencies and it autoshifts until it finds one to defeat the laser resistant armor it's facing. It's a Wilk's 557 VFALR "Chameleon". Quebec will fine you for even having one."

Bartholemew nods to the giant, "Good deal, I'm waitin to come across a canister for this puppy, an I'll be all set. I haven't been able to make it that far north, prolly won't either. I got a rifle for just about any occasion, when laser won't work, pull out something that will, be handy to have it all in one rifle tho." When the call is made, he mounts up finding his place back on the truck. As they travel, he quietly scans the landscape for anything interesting using the binoc's built into his helmet.

Valeriya slams her pistols back into their holsters at the call to reload and jumps back to get in and comfy before she ends up being last aboard.

Johnson obligingly climbs back into the vehicle, listening to their chatter about weapons. "If not dinosaur there," he speaks, "but mage, anyone bring bullet rifle?" He looks over his shoulder at Bartholemew, and then back towards Taz in the rear. "We go to other person house, call it safari. Hunt. Maybe they like we kill dinosaur. Maybe not. Little worry, I look around, see so many laser."

After everyone climbs back into the hovertruck and Rasputin verifies all is stowed nicely. He says loudly, "Da, mink havink 6 shots of anti-nasty bullets." Then with a chuckl he yells, "Be hangink on, da!" And with that he is off like a shot again. Moving slightly above he tree line now, he is moving even faster than he was below the tree line. He stays around 10 feet above the tree line making sure to not have any issues with rogue trees which have grown taller than others. He hums to himself as he flys, of course not easy to hear him humming over the darn engine of the hovertruck.

As you all travel south-east, it is obvious to noticed the mountain line to the east of you, they loom out of the forest range and are perhaps still a hundred miles off maybe more. Not much is in the air, some lone birds of prey and a flock of smaller starlings here and there. The hours pass along quickly and as predicted around three'o'clock Rasputin starts to look for a landing zone. He spots a nice clearing after about fifteen minutes, which was lucky as the forest has been growning ever denser. He makes two or three passes over the top of it making sure it is actually a good spot. "Da, we landink dhere and makink base camp." After a few minutes, Rasputin lands in the center of the clearing and jumps out. "Da. Good." Be begins to cover he hovertruck with a creation of tarps. they are green, brown and gray, providing some camo to the air above. He stakes and ties them off beginning to make a kind of lean too canopy for everyone to use in case it rains.

Taz says over the radio, because he'd be hard pressed to be heard while Rasputin is driving like a maniac through the town, "Mage... just get m'hands onna mage and it's over." He rumbles a chuckle at that, "Don't got belts for bertha, kinda why I took the job, 7500 will get me a couple belts..." Then they are off again, driving driving and the drugs cause Taz to zone out, it's a long long long long long long long long long drive for a juicer after all but when they stop, new drugs kick him back into action within a moment or three. Out he jumps from the back of the truck and stretches again, just for something to do as he looks around. If it rains, well, then Taz will be getting wet most likely.

"My pulse pistol shoots bullets. And if the mage is any good at all, you wont get your hands on them.. If not by all means." Valeriya notes to Johnson andTaz with a smirk.

Bartholemew chuckles, "This Rifle right here," patting the C-12, "This baby's got a tuner on it and I can tune the volume down so it don't punch through Body armor, for those unarmored types. But Mage or not, I'm most likely gonna put a burst into im if he's shooting or castin something back at me. It's either me or him, I sure don't want it to be me." When they park it to set up camp, he immediately goes to checking out the perimeter before getting to set up his own equipment.

Johnson grabs his stowed pack, pulling from it a mossy-looking suit. The pale browns and faded half-greens have tiny bits of white underneath, a sign that he painted over an arctic coloring scheme, and he looks across at Taz. "We split watch? I go look perimeter. See what here." He points at the surrounding forest, and begins heading in that direction.

Taz grins at Val, "Then you pay for my ammo, we're hunting dinos, not mages. Even still dodging boulders or trees is hard too, and not all can make ground sticky." He rumbles another chuckle and then looks at Johnson before looking towards Rasputin, "Bossman call shots. Whatcha wanna do bossman?" He rumbles curiously while he absently looks around as well, for now.

"The big one does have a point there. i think encountering a mage out here will be rather unlikely. They tend to dislike fould smelling swamps." She notes before nodding slightly to Johnson. "Better for you to go explore than I. I'd get lost."

Rasputin looks up and smiles, "Da, for nows makink your camps. Stayink close to truck, in da mornink we start scoutink, da?" And with that he goes about his work of making camp and reading his equipment for quick dissection of anything the lot of you might catch. He hums to himself as he does this, just listening to the banter about individual's weaponry and skill at using said weapons.

Johnson says, "Not go far. Fifty meter, look in circle around camp. Want to know if see nest or game trail twenty feet into brush that way." He points at the nearest tree, assuring, "Am tough meal. No worry." He shrugs into the ghille suit, flicking a switch to turn on the cooler, and anyone with thermo would see his outline rapidly drop to near-room temperature, and stay quite fuzzy. "If get me, deserve the snack."

Bartholemew sets up his small tent and gear close to the Hover truck, an NG-Basic Survival Kit. When he finishes he hops up onto the bed of the truck, climbing up to the highest point, and goes to scanning as far out as he can see with the built in optics of his helm. To those that are close, "So how long yall been in Kingsdale? I'm a lifer, all my life cept the military stint fightin the CS here and there."

When it comes to making camp, Taz has an unusual trick to making his camp, mainly it consists of grabbing a tree and pushing it over into another tree to construct the basics of his shelter until he has created a lean too, his size. Then he goes about trying to find good sized rocks in order to build himself a fire pit and the like, "Shout if ya need help Johnson." The big man rumbles to the disappearing one before he answers Bartholemew, "Born and raised inna Dregs." He rumbles with a bit of a shrug as he continues building his own little base camp in a somewhat greater than 'low environmental impact' type of construction considering at least a few of those trees likely won't pull through.

Valeriya doesnt seem to have much to contribute to the making of camp. No she seems rather comfrotable camping in her armor. Though she does move over towards Taz's setup with an approving nod. Withouyt a word she quickly scales the tree hes shelter is leaning against to make herself at hom among its branches. Up there she recovers her sandwish and mucnhes silently.

Johnson disappears into the brush, picking a route that's fairly more clear. None the less, he isn't traveling at great speed. On occasion he can be spotted, his suit stuck on a fallen log, or tree branch. It looks rather silly on him as he walks about, but on the occasion he stops, the armored one is hard to pick out against the evergreen backdrop of the forest. The radio chatters, and Johnson's voice filters through, "This early spring, think find thin adult. No baby. No fat after winter. Unless not freeze down here?"

Depending on your people's equipment, you will see perhaps 400 yards into the forest. Then it just gets to dense. Ground cover is perhaps two or three tall, and trees are fairly dense. Though, spring hasn't hit yet so not as thick of a canopy as it could be yet. There are small animals seen here and there, but nothing super large... yet. The air is damp, and it is obvious that Rasputin has choosen carefully choosen the edge of not a swamp, but more of a very wet forest.

Rasputin doesn't take long setting up his part of the camp. Basically a tarp, sleeping bag, and a small cook stove setup. He smiles, and for the first time double checks all of his weapons, then looks around and inspects the edge of the clearing, poking around here and there. "Mink been in Kingsdale good manies years, but net all mink life." He pokes around a bit. He isn't trying to be quiet or sneaky, but then again with Taz over there it doesn't matter too much. He comes back after a few minutes, "Guess nothink really beink usink dhis clearing in a while," He looks to Johnson, "You going to scout about?"

Eventually Taz gets his trees the way he likes them, a big tree cave as it were, with a rock pit he can build a fire safely in, should he so wish. Once done however he looks up at the hoofed girl, no matter what she might say, and watches her in her tree with a deep rumbling chuckle. Looking back down, his weapons checked, loaded, everything ready he prepares... to be bored. "When are we going to go hunting bossman?" He rumbles simply, perhaps already making plans if the boss says not till tomorrow.

Bartholemew hops down from the top of the truck after a good few minutes of scanning the area to go over and eat. Its nothing that looks too appetizing, but he don't seem to mind the rations. "Last hunt, what did ya end up baggin? A biggun? or a bunch of small ones?"

Stay within sight, look for signs of a game trail, nests, heat flares with his multioptics, a river in the distance, that sort of thing.

Valeriya smirks as she looks down at taz and fnishes her sandwich. The red lizard that had been forgotten on her shoulder scampering off about the tree to find its own food. "All that noise you just made scared most things nearby away. Probably be about morning that they find there way back to our vicinity." She notes to him with a chuckle.

Taz shrugs, "Last I knew, hunting was proactive, not ambush... otherwise... be little chance of finding dinos. Not like they common as flies. Dinos big, gotta knock over trees too." He rumbles simply.

Johnson is still lost in the trees. From the pace he's going, he's likely to be out there a while. One can still make him out, off in the distance, taking his sweet time about it. The radios crackle. "People here. Old signs. Not so old. Too much rain. No see nests or lizards."

Rasputin watches as Johnson just wanders into the forest and grins as he reports in over the radio, he has the helmet on a hook on his armor. He still hasn't put the darn thing on. He looks over to Bart, "Mink thinkink if we are net disturbed dis evenink, we will be startink first think tomorrow morninks. Lastink time, some nasties found us at night. Raptors. And dhey attracted an Allosaurous. Net goodinks. Buttink, we tookink dhem down easy enoughs." He looks out, and then pulls off a foot locker sized chest and opens it sorts through it for a moment and then he begins to cook. He is making something and boy does it smell good...

"Well I would hope they are common enough around here, otherwise it'd be a waste hunting them. And from what I've seen they are not all huge. Last trip i took north we fought off a back where each was about the size of our boss there." Valeriya quips in reply to the giant before shaking her head. "But I am still new to this world, so I'm no expert."

Bartholemew nods as he listens to everyones input on the topic, "Well hopefully this'll be an easy gig and we'll stumble on a group of plant eaters, knock it down and bank on it and come out next week for another." he chuckles. "How many times you done this hunt Boss?"

Taz shrugs, "Some are big hoof girl." He rumbles, "Even bigger 'n me. Seen in museum in Kingsdale. Seen bones, you see too when get back." He offers to her before he moves to sit down and pull open his pack. Apparently, as good as the stuff Rasputin is cooking smells, the big guy is paranoid enough not to eat food he didn't prepare or bring with him...

Johnson continues his report as he travels. "See no dinosaur poop. Think be big enough even I see. Maybe wrong place?" He wanders through, adding, "Unless was mountains we saw. Maybe some really big dinosaurs cause them?" There's a curse and Johnson's radio cuts off, as he untangles himself from an errant tree limb. Again.

The day goes by slowly for the fearless band of hunters, nothing making a peep out in the forest. Of course, as soon as the sun sinks down below the tree line it is a different story. The bugs, nocturnal birds and small nocturnal animals all start coming out to create an incredible din of naturally created music. Any time someone makes a loud noise the forest goes quiet for a moment, then sparks up again once things have settled down. But alas the night goes by uneventfully.

You say, "So, anyones hungries? Mink havink enough for all of us," He eyes Taz, "Dwell, mostly? A taste for you at leastink?" He chuckles, "Mink madink flank stakes, salad, and some light olio past. Mustink havink night start with goodink meal, da?" He actually pulls out a few bottles of wine as well, "And a goodink cabinet, da." He has setup the side of the truck as a table and has put forth 4 normal sized plates and two with much larger portions on them. "Please, joinkin me and we shall set watch and be turnink in earlies? Da?""

"I bet there are, doesnt mean you should count out the small ones though." Valeriya note before the call for dinner comes. Leaping from her perch on high she lands on the ground to crouch into a roll before recovering to walk quite gracefully to Rasputin's setup. "Looks great." She says with encouragement

Bartholemew has no problem accepting the Boss's offer, "Don't mind if I do. Thanks." By the looks on his face after the first bite, it definatly seems much better than the rations from his survival kit. He gives the Thumbs up to Rasputin, "If this is what you can do in the forest, I'll have to be hangin round the deli more."

Johnson's long returned by dinner time, and he peers at the prepared meals with the inscrutable gaze of a helmeted head. "Is cow meat?" he wonders, looking at the steaks, the firelight reflecting in a pair of little dancing orange embers in those dark goggles of his. "Have any meat not cooked?" he wonders, raising his head to look at Rasputin. He seems reluctant to touch any of the food there.

You're not paranoid if the world really is out to get you. Or so the saying goes. Taz shakes his head, it takes a rather particular amount of proteins and vitamins to power that drug induced frame. It may not be as tasty, but out here in the wild he's not going to risk it. "Thanks, but by the time I am full, won't be any left for y'all." He rumbles with a chuckle following, that's his story and he's sticking to it.

Rasputin looks to Johnson and thinks, "Net, dis venison. Net cow. Buttink, mink havink some left." He digs around and pulls out an individual wrapped piece of deer steak, "Will dhis be doink, dis raw." He hands it to Johnson and then looks over to Taz, "You sure? Dis fresh makinks. Might be last warm meal for a few days?" He cuts into his own meal after pouring out a few glasses of wine, yes he has wine glasss. Real ones. This is camping right? The two plates, which obviously were made up for Taz sit there, under a small cover to protect from wildlife. Rasputin says, "So, nothink out dhere. Dis good, perhaps gettink good night sleep. Last times, we dhere jumped by raptors on first night." He shakes his head, "Net goodink."

Bartholemew gets about halfway through his meal before asking, "So what kind of watches ya want to set up? Pairs? Single?" and almost immediately going right back into his meal, glancing every now and then to those around the camp.

Taking her portion Valeriya eats in silence, prefering to watch the discussion for the time being as she enjoys the meal.

Johnson grabs the venison and crinkles it about in its wrap, and he glances down at the prepared plate. "Cold chest in truck?" he wonders. "Maybe lunch for people?" He walks towards a nearby tree, reaching skywards to snap off a branch. Returning to the group, he momentarily rests the wrapped steak on the hood of the hovertruck, pulling a bowie knife from his leg sheath to hack the hardwood into a quick and easy point. Then skewering his dinner, he approaches the fire, waiting for it to start dripping blood. "I slept in morning, in truck," he points out. "Am rested. Like night. Take watch."

"I am sure." Taz rumbles simply and to the point, making no move to go eat the food that was prepared by Rasputin. Instead he eats his protein bar, takes his vitamins, the stuff a traveling titan juicer must have in order to flourish in the wild. He nods slightly at Bart's question as well, wondering how it's going to go down. He does rumble however, "I only need a few hours sleep a night. Can watch most of it."

Rasputin shrugs at Taz's answer and works on his meal. He looks to Bart and others, "Dwell, if Johnson and mink takes first watch dhich would be goodink. Perhaps have a little over laps, but mainly just two persons on watchink?" He looks to Taz, "Dhen you durink early mornink, as mink takes somes rest?" Then he looks to Bart, "And you when Johnson gets tired after day break?" He looks to Valeriya, "You can take a swamp with someones tomorrow night," He looks around, "Dhis way we have ones who sleeps full times during eveninks." He looks around again, "Soundink ok?"

"Works for me." Valeriya agrees in brief to make for little interrupting to the food she is quickly devouring. Really making no efforts not to be a bit piggish in her eating habits..

Taz shrugs, "I only sleep at best for 3 hours, who ever wants watch when I'm asleep is up to them. Otherwise, I'll be awake and helping." The big juicer stands up, "If pressed, don't need to sleep for several days, no problem." He rumbles simply and to the point and then he heads off away from the others while they eat as he tries to figure out what he's going to do out in the middle of nowhere while waiting for daybreak, or a night attack by these raptors. "Hopefully," He rumbles, "Them rapthings will attack tonight... otherwise... ugh." He rumbles another deep chuckle.

Bartholemew nods with a mouthful, partially swallowing, "Fair nuff." then takes the last few bites left on his plate, leaving nothing to be wasted. He gives a brief chuckle to the big Juicer's eagerness for battle. Johnson waits until the venison begins dribbling blood, just enough to get it warm, and then peers at the people around the campfire. After a moment's pause, he turns and walks back away from the light. Easing into the brush, he ducks a break and makes a shuffling noise that halts the sounds of bugs in the trees, off to consume the uncooked meal away from prying eyes.

Unfortunately the night passes quietly, really quietly. Only the constant muttering of Taz and the fact there isn't anything attacking can be heard above the music of the forest. Everyone, for the most part gets a great rest. As the dawn breaks, the forest seems to hush as the morning brings a bright light into the clearing. A lone bird calls out the first light, then as if by magic the forest sparks to life again. As birds and creatures call out welcoming in a bright morning... Of course the sun is short lived by 7:00 am the clouds are back...

Rasputinstretches as he gets up, and begins to pack up his small sleeping gear. Then makes a small meal for himself, not something large for everyone as with last night. With his duties done, he looks around to see how everyone is fairing this early morning.

Taz is already awake, having needed very very little sleep or zero at all having gotten some sleep on the way out actually but he'd made himself sleep so others could also take watch and because it was perhaps better than the interminable lack of anything going on during the night. Taz for the most part is up and about, his large form looming and stalking quietly through the trees around the camp, he actually -can- be pretty quiet when he wants to be, as amazing as that is...

Valeriya stills snores softly in her tree. Despite her lack of watch duty she's a bit of a night owl and was up fairly late before she took to turning in. So it comes that now she is still resting.

Bartholemew is up early and before he eats he does a bit of calisthenics to stretch out before eating some morning rations when light breaks. As he eats he packs up his gear and readies himself for moving out.

Johnson wandered into the trees overnight, wearing that ghille suit of his, and more or less disappeared into the forest. Every half an hour he double-clicked his radio, just the static, as proof of life, and by morning he's back, crunching through the foliage as the heat seeps back into the electrical covering. Reaching to his translator, he changes the language and suggests in Dragonese, "Most of us have rifles. The dinosaurs cannot challenge us in the air. Shall we lift off to a hundred feet and try to find some on the open plain?"

Rasputin looks over to Johnson, "Mink was ponderink dhat idea. Dhough, if all covered likink forest, we my net find place to land. Even if we are spottink somethink. Besides, sound might scare everythink away." He tugs his beard, "Perhaps tryink on foot to start?" He just points towards the direction of the mountain range, "Dhat way perhaps?"

Taz doesn't look over, because he's stalking quietly. Amazingly quietly, over half a ton of Taz moving through the woods, stealthily even. He does radio however, "How are we all supposed to fly." In his deep rumble, "Do we have plane? Or plan to make us fly with magic? If we fly, and shoot dinosaur, might run into cover then we have to go in anyways. Might not be bad idea to fly one person to scout though, see what can be seen."

Bartholemew adds in, "I'm for the on foot approach, strategically form a search pattern to locate possible game trails and stuff like that, if nothing, move base camp to next clearing. Just my two cents."

Valeriya awakens to the sound of the depate and slinks down to the ground in silence and consideration. "Rasputins' right, the trucks far too loud for hunting. However I think searching them out could take a while. Why not set some bait and wait as well? Both take time, better served covering two strategies instead of one."

Johnson scratches at his helmet, then tilts his head up and makes a sound the translator doesn't understand. "The hover truck flies," he points out, still speaking in Dragonese. "This isn't our land. I'm not from the Greater Swamp Ancient Fauna Society. I've seen helicopters hunting wild boar back in Missouri, and those are louders than this truck. If you wound one and can't find it, something else will eat it. We are modern men. We have many advantages over these beasts. I'm not sure the reason to immediately abandon them. Shall we also abandon rifles because they're unsporting?" He points to the east. "On my circle this morning, I saw tracks. They're hours old, but it had three toes and walked on four legs. Maybe seven feet long, but it's hard to say. It was heading north by northeast, away from us."

Rasputin thinks about what everyone says and tugs his beard, then finally puts on his helmet does a quick microphone check and says, "Based on previous trips, if dhere were anything in the area my dinner would havink brought dhem. We will be needink to search forink thinks. If we are findink something, mink clean ups might bring mores." He looks to everyone, "Lets movink on foots, and stay fanned out." He looks to Johnson, "If you net mindink will you lead?" He adds a moment almost as an after thought, "Besides, usink da hovercraft puts more wear on intakes, too manies bugs and craps we net fly any mores." And with that, he looks to Johnson.

Taz looks at Johnson, or where Johnson's signal should be coming from and he shakes his head, "Got no problem punchin' a dino to death... Just grab the back of it's head an' it's jaw an' twist -real- hard... snap." He rumbles to himself in a soft deep mutter before he moves off to the side, "On foot works with me." He says louder over the radio however, "If Johnson's found tracks, we should follow, might lead to watering hole or better place for ambush."

Bartholemew finishes up gathering his things, slings his rifle over his shoulder and pops his helmet on, ready to go. "All set. Just point me in a direction and off I go."

"You worry to much Johnson, we still have most of our advantages, that truck takes more than it gives." Valeriya advises before moving off to start the search. She has no idea what to look for but blind luck works perhaps too often. Though she's keen to ensure she can stll sense the magical energies of Rasputin and Johnson.

Johnson peers up into the daylight sky, his shoulders drooping a little at the prospect. His path is that most directly into the forest, seeking the shade of trees beneath the cloud canopy, the diffuse light only a touch darker here than any place else. Apparently having slept little, he plunges into the wood. Moving at a fast walk, though slowing here and there, as sandy soil occasionally obscuring the trail until he can find another patch of good clay mud for a solid mark. He may well have lost his original dinsaur's trail, but there seem to be tracks ahead left by *something*.

As the fearless hunters venture north, their travels drag them over a fairly damn piece of terrain. It isn't a swamp, or marsh, but it sure does get water everywhere. Everything just is kind of leaking moisture. The tracks, now that Johnson has pointed them out are obvious. Some sort of large solitary creature moving north by northeast. It takes a few hours, and with luck the wind is facing towards the groups' faces. By 10:00 the group, comes to a small clearing with a large pool. While the group hasn't been super quiet, they haven't been super noise either. They all come to a stop, spying something drinking on the south side of the pool.

Perhaps 8 feet long and about 3.5 feet tall, is a strange looking quadruped with thick plates all over it. It has small spikes sticking out from its plates and a nasty looking beaked snout. It is drinking water slowly, apparently not seeing anything or noticing anything.

The strange creature, oblivious of the fact 5 dangerous individuals are sneaking up on it continues to drink.

The strange creature, oblivious of the fact 5 dangerous individuals are sneaking up on it continues to drink. It apparently hasn't noticed anything strange at all in the forest today. It seems to be just enjoying a nice peaceful morning. Little does it know....

Taz doesn't even spot the monster, he just is off looking at something or another, perhaps checking off to see if there is something off in the distance worth noticing. He blindly continues forwards, as oblivious as the creature is that he is striding right towards it. Apparently, in this day and age, 'Big' means oblivious, both for humans, and for dinosaur like monsters!

Bartholemew, still a bit behind the others is oblivious of any danger, thinking all is well and dandy.

Rasputin freezes in his tracks, and tries to figure out just what the hell that thing is drinking the water. He squelches into his mic, "Dhat is dhat?!" He points to it, as he draws his NG-45 pistol drawn in his hand, He crouches down where he is and takes aim at the thing, "Before I fire, anyone know dhat it dis?"

Bartholemew, still a bit behind the others is oblivious of any danger, thinking all is well and dandy. When Rasputin chimes into the mic, he gives a quick scan of where he points off to, still not seeing it, he moves to a better vantage point.

Valeriya shurgs, lookign at the thing but not really feeling the urgency to spring into action right away. "Looks pretty small. Maybe wound it to lure a bigger one?" She suggests, pulling her sword in her lax preperation.

Johnson doesn't stop abruptly, but does raise a fist without saying anything and slowly crouches, nearly being run over by Taz! He reaches back and lighly taps the big guy without looking -- hopefully in the knee! -- and steps forward against a nearby tree.

The creature swiches its long tail, which has small spikes laying flat up and down it as well. Its body is long, lean, and overall skinny. Not much to this thing, save for the fact it is 8 feet long. It still seems to be 100 oblivious to the group of 5 coming from behind of it. It stretches a bit, some of the spikes flex and stick up, and out away from the plates, like a porcupine somewhat.

Now that the dinosaur has been pointed out to him, if it is a dinosaur, Taz grins, "Dunno." He rumbles into the radio and he then starts to sneak up towards the thing, as best he can, trying to sneak up so that he can try and grab hold of the things tail... the juicer, is absolutely nuts, yes indeedy. At least this way he'll be close enough, he hopes, that it won't easily get away regardless!

Rasputin watches in horror as Taz tromps through the forest towards the creature, he takes aim at it and only now does he notice something really odd, "It has six legs. Does anythink natural in dhis world have dhat many legs?" He prepares to make an aimed called shot to the head...

Bartholemew moves to where he can see the beast and kneels behind a tree to aim and get a bead on the creature's head, waiting till the order to fire is given.

Johnson looks aside at Taz, tapping quietly at his keyboard on his left arm. He then presses a button on his collar, and then points his right arm at the creature, clenching his fist and ... nothing, apparently. "Mind feet near thing," he speaks, still partially obscured by the concealment of the tree.

"Someone should watch Bruno's bakc no?" Valeriya notes before muttering a dark phase and fading from view. Her foot prints through the muck show her to be following a bit behind Taz.

The creature erupts into action as a sticky, gooey mess of webs fly across it. I rears up and begins to fight away from the Carpet of Adhesion, but it's progress will be super slow. Its tail is free, for the moment and it sweeps it back and forth. As it does so, those small spikes now take on the shape of long super sharp thick gauge needles. These spikes are long and nasty quills which stick out all over the creature which is crying out loudly in a horrible battle cry.

As the goo flies out, "Watch feet?" Taz asks and then sighs as he notices what's being done, "You ruin all my fun..." He mutters, instead he draws his chainsword from his back and thumbs it on so that it zings to life for a moment. Stalking towards the beast Taz tries to avoid the tail swinging and the sticky ground, seeing if Johnson left -any- room for a humongous giant chainsword to reach the monster without Taz getting stuck... but then he growls, "Fuck it." He then takes no chances and after a few steps he jumps into the air -over- the monster, clearing twenty feet to land on the other side of it so he doesn't block his compatriots shots, and so he can be ready to bring that huge chain sword into the fray as soon as possible with a wicked grin. Apparently, spiked tail, not a bother.

Rasputin having already prepared to aim at the creature's head, pulls the trigger so as not to lose the shot. It flies through air, hitting nothing intended. Perhaps a tree or something. He mutters and pulls the trigger again just trying to hit the blast thing, and does a little bit of damage as the laser blast smacks into the already pissed of f creature.

Bartholemew takes his shot just missing the head of the creature as it rears its head and thrashes to break itself free of the sticky goo. "Damn!" he mutters setting up for his next shot on the creatures head.

Johnson stays aimed at the critter, reaching for another button on his collar, and from his right arm nozzle fly a variety of rainbow-hewed sparks. They flitter and circle, trying to wrap about the creature's blunted head, aiming at ears and eyes, seeking entry. Whether they do or not seems to matter less to Johnson, as he then steps away from the crazed, hurt creature, and watches the forest beyond. Wary that the sounds of struggle may draw in more.

"Elegant, you are not Taz." Valeriya's voice notes as she watches his charging leap over the startled beast. "Not that it matters with that web and the noise it has the thing making." She adds before uttering aother dark phrase and swinging her invisible blade to dismember that swinging tail.

The poor creature is now stuck, being attacked by all sides and is befuddled. It eyes a target, at least a target the large impressive looking Titan Juicer, but just can't seem to figure out how to hit him yet.

"Subtle no in vocabulary!" Taz bellows with a booming laugh as he flips his sword around and in both hands he then takes two steps, one to the side, one to plant both his feet and then moves to swing that massive beast of a sword down towards the monsters neck/head area as he squeezes the trigger on the blade the multitude of ultra-sharp and tough teeth of the chainsword spinning very very fast... this is not going to be pretty should Taz succeed.

Rasputin is ready to take aim at the beast, but then notices something which is odd, it is now in two pieces... It's head is no longer attached to its body... He stands up, "Well..." He chuckles, "Dhat was a bit quick..." He chuckles softly, "Everyone Okies?"

The creature collapses to the ground, its dark, dark read blood is now oozing from the gapping hole where its body used to be located...

Bartholemew gets up from his kneeling postion as the creature falls dead without a head. Moving in closer to get a better look at the beast.

Johnson takes a long and circuitous path, jogging a wide berth around the critter, uttering towards into the radio in Dragonese, "Coming in behind you in six seconds Taz, will sh-" and then the creature is decapitated, and he falls silent. "Belay that." Johnson takes a moment and jogs away from the group, to a slightly more silent place in the shade, to peer out into the forest. Watching for motion.

Valeriya frowns slightly as the creature falls dead. "Figures, fortune favors the bold. Good kill Taz." She compliments, though her tone clearly shows dissapointment in not getting more fight out of the prey. Her invisibility wont lift right away, content to just speak should anyone be in danger of walking into her.

The chainsword spews blood and gore as it chops the head off the creature and Taz grins, his legs soaked in the monsters blood. He pulls the sword over to the side and spins the blade some more to make sure all the blood goes flinging off of it and it's clean before he slides it back onto his back. He grins at Val, "Easy, not much a monster, dinosaurs weak..." He says with a shrug, not noticing that the creature isn't a dinosaur or not.

Rasputin walks over to the creature, and pulls out a few large 'game' sacks. He bends down and says, "Please be coverink mink, while I quickly clean dhis out. Da?" He pulls out a laser Wilk's Laser Wand and begins to carefully cut the thing into pieces. "Mink should clean and we take back to camp quickies." With that he goes to work. He swears a few times in Russian as he apparently screws up once or twice. Oddly the head is actually in good shape, considering the nasty neck slice. It takes him a few minutes to quarter it down. He looks up, "Taz, can you do me favor and beink carryink dis?"

Bartholemew helps in packing the pieces cut up for hauling back to camp.

Johnson's head is aimed at the water, once murky-clear and now a pink tide downriver. His attention rises and he takes a few steps away from the shore, stepping away from the river bank to peer downstream where all that blood is flowing away. "Get it out of the water," he speaks, quietly, but with a touch of urgency.

"But of course." Valeriya's voice confrims to Rasputins request to watch his back. Her invisibility cutting out after he's started cleaning the carcass to show her carefully cleaning her blade from the blow she landed. Johnsons warning draws a specualtive look briefly before she looks to the others. She'll not be stepping out of the water before the dwarf does.

Taz looks down at Rasputin, "More money for being carry person." He grins, "Not pack mule." His deep rumble clearly playful as he moves to grasp the tail of the beast and try to drag it back out of the water if he can, assuming it's in one piece enough to do so, maybe that's why Rasputin was cursing at that moment. Still he is not a squicky person, blood, guts, pieces of beasty, no problem. He'll help get it packed up and carry what he can.

Rasputin looks to Taz and nods his broad grin behind the helmet of his armor, "Da, da. Goodlink." He looks at all of the blood that is going down the creek, towards camp. He goes to tug his beard, which of course is inside of he helmet. He casts a spell or two on himself, and Taz. The blood vanishes. He digs a small hole, with a small field shovel and pushes the entrails into it, then washes it off, "Dwell, perhapsink we can be usink dit to attractink others? Usink this place as a trap." He looks to Johnson. He looks around, "Lets store this back at camp, and take lunch, dhen go back out before we lose da light, da?"

The group make their way quickly through the woods back to the camp. By that time it is is around 14:00 in the afternoon. The forest has grown quiet again, perhaps it was the combat, perhaps it was the group noisily moving through it. Or perhaps it is due to something else. The camp is seemingly undisturbed, which is good of course. Aren't many others out this way, well one would hope.

Rasputin walks over to the hovertruck and asks to Taz, "If you would be bringink da kill over to heres, I'll store it." He pulls out a few very large coolers and prepares them for storing the small kill. "Net anyone's figured out what this think was, da?" He shakes his head and gets ready.

Valeriya shrugs at the question as to what it is, really not suprised that she has absolutley no idea. "It died easily, was small. Will probably need to find bigger harder prey to make this trip profitable." She notes blandly.

"Green and ugly," Johnson illuminates helpfully, following the track back towards camp. He keeps glancing towards the river, edging to move more quickly, but held back by the giant carrying chunks of flesh. As they draw nearer camp, he murmurs in Dragonese, "That's not where I left you..." and veers to the right, off the trail well within sight of camp to kneel, looking for a bit of clay. "Eyes up," he speaks into his radio, before muttering and changing the translator over to American. "Beware. New people. Maybe in camp. Least two."

Bartholemew enjoys the leisurely march back through the forest to camp. "Don't look at me to tell ya what it is, I ain't got a clue. Thats why I work for the smart ones." When Johnson's radio chimes in with the alert, he readies his weapon and begins scanning the area with his thermal optics for any signs of trouble.

"Needed more of 'em." Taz rumbles over the radio as he drags and/or carries a bunch of dead dinosaur/monster that has been prepared for travel. "I mean really," He rumbles to himself, "Hardly lasted but what, one swing from hoof girl an' me, an' a little scorch from laser? Thought things sposed ta be big nasty an' tough." He mutters some more but thankfully that rumbling mutter isn't transmitted across the radio and while he might not respond verbally to Rasputin he does drag/carry the kill over towards the truck so he can then go about washing himself off... after all there was running water not far away and he doesn't want to stink like dinosaur blood and ickyness.

Taz is apparently, unconcerned with new people in camp as well.

"Well swings from either of our swords are nothing to scoff at." Valeriya notes before turning to scan the camp at johnsons mention. "See, leaving bait works, in a sense." She notes while opening herself to her sense of magic.

The camp really does seem undisturbed, whatever Johnson found either came and went with no change or never saw the camp. Which might be possible... Who knows. But there is nothing obvious at the moment...

Rasputin looks to where he thinks Johnson might be as he looks around in the camp, "Net, net. Mink shouldink havink thought about dhat. Dhank you for da warnink. 2 perhapslink?" He shakes his head, "Mink stow dhis, lookink at your gears. Seeink if anythink missink."

Johnson cautiously continues his veer, keying the radio. "Bart. With me." He drops to a knee to eye the tracks again, noting, "Seems not tech. Carry weight. Maybe pack and gear. Maybe corpse and magic. Too close to camp to not see hover. I follow, short while. Not go far. See if they circle back or just run out." And he slowly begins pressing forwatd, to do just that, but after a short while he stops before a bog, the smooth gleaming water's surface obscuring any tracks that might be underneath.

Bartholemew, moving over with Johnson to watch his back. He too, stowed his gear prior to the scouting, so he's more concerned with anyone still straggling nearby. "Got your back." He follows a short distance behind covering the scout up to where he loses signs of the tracks. "Boat maybe?"

Taz travels light, well, light for him. All his gear was on his back when they left. Rifle, pistol, two swords, ammo, and rations. Check. IRMSS check. Bertha left back in Kingsdale due to lack of ammo, check. So for the moment, unless he is told otherwise, Taz makes do with cleaning himself off. Chainswords are not exactly clean weapons to use at all. "Check the vehicle." He rumbles, "Look for any sabotage that will keep us out here or trap us if we try to start the truck." His deep voice goes over the radio. "Make sure to look under hovertruck too." He rumbles another deep chuckle at that. "Also, check trees, look up... and we should move camp. They know location, if preparing to ambush us will come tonight with more numbers." He's just a fountain of happy suggestions.

As Johnson and Bart follow the tracks which are perhaps 50m away from the camp at this point, the other three scan through the camp looking for any signs of life. So far nothing has been discovered. So far...

Rasputin waiting for a report mack from Johnson and Bart, he calmly puts away the food. He makes quick work of sealing it up and closing the oder's away. The then takes a knee, weapon drawn back to the hovertruck. He is about to say something over the radio then he looks towards Taz, "Da, goodink idea." He puts away his pistol and then begins to move around the hovertruck looking for anything which might be out of place. After a few minutes he doesn't seem to find anything, "Lookink clear here, da. Oh, and truck net have radio." He chuckles, 'Buttink good thoughts."

"I'd do that if I could tell a bomb form the rest of its parts.. But failing that I will do a walk about the perimiter." Valeriya notes and makes her way about the edge of the clearing. "As for the radios, if you want to be paranoid about eavesdroppers I can set up some countermeasures."

"No," Johnson judges, eyeing the water. "They know we follow. Know we hunter. Not seem interested in truck. Maybe just hope we not hunt them." He flicks a finger in the water, and looks up. "Maybe we get trail on other side. Maybe not. Is still early. I think they find us if we move truck. This say; is their land." He shrugs, and eases up from his crouch, to walk back towards camp. "Maybe leave protien bar with note when we leave next. Sign of good faith."

Bartholemew chuckles just watching the scout do his thing, having no idea really what he is noticing that is telling him all this stuff, "If ya say so bud. We swimmin to the other side to find out?"

Long distance to Johnson: Rasputin it is a wide creek but doesn't look too deep. Fairly clear, but of course clear water can be decieving...

Taz rumbles another chuckle, "I will stay up all night, not sleep. Be alert... will be boring but will manage." He finishes washing -more- blood and gore off his armor and weapon until he is finally satisfied. Say one thing about personal armor, it certainly is easy to clean these days... Looking around Taz heads back into the camp. "Maybe they watching us now, wait see what we do." He rumbles another chuckle and then moves towards his 'tree cave' he'd made before. Poor trees.

The creek which Johnson and Bart has found is 20 or 30 feet wide, and doesn't appear to be very deep. Though the clear cool water might be obscuring how deep it the pools really might be currently. It is early spring late winter, the water levels might be higher than normal. The rest of the camp seems fine, so far.

Rasputin looks around and takes another knee and draws his weapon. Rasputin says in Dragonese, "Johnson, why don't you and Bart come back, unless you know it circled back for sure. Don't want to split us up too far. Lets get some grub, but keep someone on watch. I would like to go out for another sortie prior to dark, unless you think there is reason to continue." Of course, those that speak Dragonese perhaps are caught off guard as Rasputin doesn't speak Dragonese with the same horrible accent.

Valeriya completes her circuit with no results and takes another look around. "Maybe we need a higher viewpoint." She muses before looking for the taleest tree in the vicinity and going for a climb "Not here hunt men," Johnson points out, and shrugs. "I think no way two people alone. Likely village around. Not want fight brings no profit. If they want talk, they come. If they want leave alone, just like they not there." He peers down at the track, as if it could tell him something of intent, and adds, "If they want hunt us, they in for surprise."

Bartholemew nods, "Works for me then, guess we should get back to camp, boss is lookin for us." and starts trudging back to camp, still switching between thermal and normal optics, keeping alert.

Taz rumbles another chuckle, "Already said I'd watch tonight all night." He then watches Val climb a tree, with hooves, interesting. Maybe it's like nascar, where you watch just in the case of a crash, or maybe it's because she's the -only- female on this expedition, you do the math. "All good for huntin' some more." He rumbles seriously however, "Lots less borin'."

The forest returns after a few moments back to the normal din which the small group might be growing a custom too. The forest seems to feel that no further danger is present, or it has been fooled. The camp seems fine, no sign that anything went through it can be found.

Food is gotten, Rasputin actually did make up some steak sandwich from the big guy's un-touched portions from the previous night. He smiles as he eats his sandwich, his helmet now off. He says again in Dragonese, not over a mic, "Da, good food. I'm thinking we have perhaps 4 hours of good light with perhaps another hour of failing light. Perhaps go the opposite direction, south, see what we find?" Then he looks to Taz, "Yes, if you want to watch all night, that would be great." He then tugs his beard and switches to American, "Da, anyones net understindink Dragonese?"

Seeing nothing of not on high Valeriya starts making her way down. though the mention of food being ready makes her that much eager to quiken the descend. So she uses the branches like parralel bars instead of normal climbing. Without a doub this gets her back to the ground quicker.

Johnson returns. He's visible almost immediately, as he barely went out of sight range before he lost the trail. The armored one moves as if on a boat, constantly touching things, making marks here and there, three points of contact. As he comes closer, he eyes the food and relays in Dragonese, "This close to a ley line, I'm not very hungry." He opens his sandwich, picking free the meat, and shrugs. "I was voracious, once upon a time. In Kingsdale I hardly ever eat. Too much energy. Makes all tight inside." He points towards the nearest line, and shrugs.

Bartholemew pops his helmet off when getting back to camp and seeing sandwiches already prepared. Happily he grabs a sandwich and moves over to lean against the Truck to eat.

Taz chuckles again when Val comes back down, gymnast routine! She is surely leading him on now! Probably not but, he's young. Shaking his head the giant of a juicer looks around and once again breaks into his own rations. Paranoid guy, but maybe you all are just luring him into a false sense of security! Want to cut out his biocomp and his kidney and sell on the black market! Or something. Probably not but, Taz just goes about eating his travel rations. Fun fun, while he takes a look around.

The food is eaten and Rasputin cleans up quickly, making sure everything is securely tied up and the smell is hidden from those creatures which would want it. ` Rasputin looks back to everyone and seeing how no one objected, "Everyone ready, da?" He says in Dragonese, then puts his helmet back on with a frown, "To the south, same order? Johnson, you take lead?"

Valeriya returns to snathc two sandwiches just before they are sealed away and is still munching on the first one as she nods to the dragonese gibberish. She'll play along and follow the leader, not looking interested in wasting energy translating.

Once again, Johnson glances about, and jogs off towards the treeline, his gear rattling softly about his slender frame as he moves. That helmet turns to peer back towards camp as he hits the bushes, and then he presses forward, falling into the thick of them with the little bits of steak clasped in one hand. When he returns, the man replies in Dragonese, "The only tracks I've seen since this morning were feet. Human feet. But the blood may have gathered interest, and anything that large will have a lot of body mass to surface area, so water is a sure bet. Let's start a quarter mile south of the kill site on the river, and follow it north." And in that direction he leads!

Bartholemew switches out his rifles, for the heavier Particle beam rifle, securing the other in the truck before they head out on their next jaunt southward. Speaking back in Dragonese, "Works for me boss." Poppin on his helm, lockin and loadin, ready to go, he falls into position.

Taz is apparently more than willing to go look for fights, as that is much much better than anything else. "Make sure dead dino covered good yeah? Don't wanna lose the kill ta scavengers huntin' down scent of blood." But then he is off, rifle at the ready but not really expecting to need to use it judging by the easy way in which he moves through the woods... he even tries to not knock any trees over thankfully.

So the group ventures forth. A few hours go by quickly as they trek around the woods, in what isn't the quietest fashion. But it isn't like they are a bull in a china closet, well not mostly. Another hour goes by, still nothing. Did everything get scared away?

Rasputin in Dragonese says over the radio, "It wasn't this difficult last time. They almost came to us." He looks up in the sky, "I think perhaps we should head back, no need to be caught out here at night." He looks to everyone else, and shakes his head, muttering something in Russian about how he is starting to get bored like the Juicer, and that isn't good.

"Well what did you do different last time?" Valeriya asks with a slightly raised brow. "Maybe your trying to learn from your mistakes. But maybe you needed some of them to be successful." She proposes as they consider heading back. "Aternatively we could look for our neighbours, maybe they have hunting advice."

Johnson leads the way! Towards nothing. He's watching for footprints along the river bank, but the tracks he does find he can't follow far enough into the wood to be useful, and he resolutely stays back at the treeline, away from the water, moving at a slow pace. "It's not hot enough yet to need to hydrate at the warmest of the day," he notes. "We could use the tail of that last creature. Chum the water. Use lasers and other low-scent means to clear small scavengers until something big invesigates."

If only he were bored like the juicer, then he would understand -why- Taz accidentally knocks over a tree every now and again, or at least why he thinks about doing it. He doesn't actually risk the mission, or the hunt, being quiet as quiet can be. When the call to return to camp is sounded he frowns but shrugs, "Sure thing boss." He rumbles and then hums to himself, "What's the odds the locals stole our dino meat while we was out?" He asks of nobody in particular.

Bartholemew scans the surroundings as they walk, keeping alert for anything, for the most part he follows the group. He doesn't need to know where they are going, just the boss does. "Maybe we should bait and wait tomorrow."

The group makes it back to the camp, just after sundown. Still plenty of light for most but the forest starts up that nightly din as soon as the sun goes down. The camp again, seems to be unmolested by anyone.

Rasputin doesn't make any special meal today. Instead he works on his own field rations of sort, of course they are gourmet home made field rations. He says, his helmet off again in Dragonese, "I've been thinkink about what we did last time, da. We were attacked by some sort of massive frog, and we killed it. But it was late so we camped near it. Dhen we were attacked again. Though it was more winter, perhaps there dis more food this time of year?" He thinks a bit, "Perhaps tomorrow we will use some bait, see what happens? Yes?" He looks to Taz and Johnson, "If you both want to take quick cat nap, the three of us will take first watch. Dhen you two relieve us?" He continues, "Just don't want any one tired out here, da?"

"Like I suggested in the first place, need bait." Valeriya confirms with Rasputin before digging out the second Sandwich she store. "I'm good for holding watch till midnight. Stay up that late anyway." She offers between mouthfuls

Johnson is silent about his assignment, choosing a place near the center of the group to kneel, and then sit cross-legged in the earth. Quite the accomplishment in armor! Showing it to be well made and light duty, hands on his knees in an approximation of the lotus position. It may not be sleep, exactly, but Johnson seems to prefer a little meditation.

Bartholemew kicks back against a tree eating some field rations listening to the others for a bit, his rifle laying in his lap. Once he's sucked down his food, he fires up a half a stogie he pulls from a pouch on his belt. Quietly he enjoys his smoke, blowing smoke rings above his head.

When they return to camp Taz looks at Rasputin, "I can stay up a week, no problem, no degradation of my performance." He rumbles and then offers a broad nearly cheshire cat grin at the dwarf, "I be cool. You all, sleep, unless want stay awake some reason." He shrugs lightly, "Not sleepin', when people near camp, can't do it..." Which is probably a good thing.

The night goes by quickly for most. Around 22:00 to 22:15 the three who were up, exchange with Taz and Johnson. The hours begin to drag by slowly but surely. The smallest, faintest hints of morning start to creep into the day. Around perhaps 04:00 am, a soft but deep sounds of something large can be heard coming through the forest. It is moving slowly, but with hump, hump steps which more vibrate than crash. It is coming from the north and traveling straight towards the camp. It starts to slams into the ground, step after step. The sound of breaking trees and cracking tree sounds. Hard to tell how far away it is, but it has to be close and coming this way. And it is getting faster.

Just as with the previous night, Johnson long since disappeared into the trees. Clicking his radio on the half hour, just to say he's alive, but he's wrapped up in his thermal ghille, watching bugs eat each other. Sitting at the perimeter of camp by the end of his shift, Johnson's perhaps the closest to the sound in the distance. He ducks his head slowly, optics pointed at the trees, and as the thumping begins, he points at the sky, tearing it open in a world-shaking crack that rumbles through the forest, shaking birds out of their nests. It ought wake everyone, at least!

At the vibrations Taz's harness perks him to full alertness, as if he wasn't in downtime mode within a few seconds. He blinks and looks around, ears honing in on the source of the sound. "Up." He rumbles loudly and not over the radio to make sure people wake up and hear in case their radio's are turned off. He goes about slinging his rifle and then drawing that big sword of his, ready for whatever is coming, "Bossman, get ready to move the truck, don't want it to get trampled. Somethin' big comin' our way." He looks towards the sound of breaking trees and flips his faceplate down, his bearded grin the last thing seen before the opaque faceplate settles into place. For anyone else that sword might be unwieldy and heavy, for Taz, it's just right as he flips it about in a bit of agitation, ready, waiting, bouncing on the balls of his feet in preparation. The thunderclap makes Taz laugh however, another big booming sound, "C'mon beasties, come play." He rumbles in true psychotic juicer fashion.

The failing moon combined with the faint sun light coming over the mountains illuminate the head and mainly the mouth of a large twenty foot tall creature comes bowling out of the forest. It is about 20 feet tall and has a 10 foot long tail. Its mouth roars loudly, so loudly that the sleeping creatures in the trees take to the air and run. It is bipedal, large head, long body with long tail. It has small fore claws with sharp finger talons. It is on the north side (M2 on map, C-10/11) of the camp headed towards the hovercraft and the remains of the previous day's kill. It heads forward towards the hovertruck

From the east (M1 on map, G-17)) another mouth of long, sharp, scary teeth comes protruding from the forest. This one wasn't so noisy as the other. It apparently, actually was sneaking around. Something the size of a garbage truck, sneaking is a scary thought. None the less, as the first screams it's battle cry. It too heads towards the hovertruck, at blinding speed and is almost there now. (Nat 20, extra move).

Johnson is ... nowhere to be seen, apparently. The once clicking guard radios in American, "Big fast mover," though his speech is cut off for a brief strange whispery sound that soon dies as his radio goes silent again. Likely the inevitable spell.

Feet pound the ground, sword held in both hands as Taz takes a short run towards the big beast approaching the truck from the east (M1), a foot plants and Taz launches himself in the air to clear the hover truck with ease, flying up high enough so that his feet are level with the giant creatures head at the height of his arc. As he comes down Taz thumbs the trigger on his giant chainsword, using all of the immense power in his super-drug charged frame to drive his sword in a vicious arc at the beast on his way down where the ten foot tall juicer lands between the monster and the truck like a blockade. "I love the smell of blood in the evening!" He roars out with a laugh, hopefully he thinks the other one will be slowed or stopped by his fellows, but for now, must stop the one closest to the truck!

Scrambles out of his sleeping bag, which was half open anyway. He blinks as he sees the large creature and this time, he makes no qualms about what he is going to do. He says something in an odd language and flips his fingers, there is a slight shimmer and something surrounds his body. He yells in Dragonese, which of course doesn't translate this English word well, so it sounds like the same word to just about everyone, "Allosaurous! Allosaurous!" He says this with almost exact certainest as he draws his pistol and takes a knee.

Valeriya would have been woken by the thubnder if she wasnt woken by the thumping. Then theres the laughter of the mad man fighting below.. With a grumble and a dark phrase she rouses to drop down from her tree branch and mutter another as she takes in the juicer and his opponent.

Bartholemew is startled awake by the shuddering of the earth and the sudden thunderclap. Simply reacting, he grabs his gun and helmet lying next to him and scrambles to get his bearings and to his feet.

The huge Juicer (G-13) has almost removed the dino G-13) to the east's tail in a single slash, it is still hanging on barely. It swings, with amazing speed and skill and takes a snapping bite of foot long teeth at Taz and his buzzing sword of doom. The large hulking Taz easily steps aside of the creature's bite only causing it to full whirl on him and face off.

The creature (Monster_1) to the north charges forth, towards the hovertruck basically exactly where Rasputin was in his sleeping bag (F-11). It moves quickly and snaps at Rasputin, but misses the bite sized morsel completely.

The radios pipe up with a message, "Run Mink! Get it away from the truck so I can trap it." It's Johnson's voice. Well, that of his translator. A stream of multicolored sparks erupt into the night, casting little in the way of illumination as they surround the carniverous giant in the middle of the camp.

Taz is, may be a huge hulking ten foot tall man in heavy plate armor but he is still a juicer and he nimbly avoids the dinosaur's bite with a laugh, "Gotta do better than that!" He shouts, not even paying attention to the others, he is after all busy dueling an allosaurus. The electric motor on the chainsword spins up again as Taz steps closer towards the giant monster, "Finally somethin' bigger'n me." He says over the radio in a completely happy tone of voice. As he steps forwards he slashes hard with the chainsword and then steps to the side in preparation of avoiding an answering snap of teeth, claw, or kick of foot before he brings that giant sword up and swings down again in another heavy cleaving motion with another laugh. Yes. The smell of dinosaur blood is on the air and the Titan Juicer is having a fun time, finally not bored!

Rasputin scrambles to his feet, takes aim and fires at the head (CALLED SHOT) of the beast trying to eat him. The shot goes wide and Rasputin stands there looking stupid.

With the one dinosaur seemingly handled Valeriya looks to the other as she mutters another dark phrase and moves closer to it. Invisible and likley unseen she will try to get right by its leg.

Bartholemew, once to his feet turns and fires a shot from his particle beam rifle at the creatures head that is trying to eat the bossman, trying to get its attention and lure it towards him, or chase it in the opposite direction if he cannot kill it.

The scene is one of monsters verse midgets. The creature (M_2_ which is battle Taz has evaded his attacks but is now horribly out of position to attack Taz back. It just tries to get it's baring back prior to being eaten alive by the evil chain sword.

The other creature (M_1) having been effected by befuddle just blinks and stares at Rasputin, not sure what is going on and doesn't have the drive to really even attack yet.

Things are not going as he'd prefer. Johnson's voice keys on the radio, "Taz, pull yours away from the truck, get some distance, let's trap it and team up on one." Invisible and in hiding, nothing more is heard of Johnson, though a shield mysteriously appears over Rasputin. Gleaming, blue, impermeable from both sides.

With the beasty managing to avoid those last two sword strikes Taz growls, "Fine." Is his rumble, though wether to the dinosaur or to Johnson's suggestion is up in the air. He steps in and lashes out twice more with that vicious sword towards the large body of the allosaur, trying to inflict more horrific damage and enrage it further against him, "Come on!" He roars at the dinosaur in challenge as he starts to back up after those strikes, luring it away from the hover truck, or so he hopes if it wants to get at him. He's not moving fast cuz, well, Taz doesn't actually walk or run as fast as a normal juicer but still...

Rasputin sees the field fly up in front of him, his vision now blocked by a blue light. He says loudly, "Thanks." He then moves back out of the field. IT isn't hard, as it is only 10 feet perhaps accross, putting it between him and the Dino, takes aim and fires again trying to hit the things neck (Head basically). He hits, square in the creatures neck and blasts a small hole in it, "Takink dhat!"

Rasputin jumps up and down at the Dino, trying to draw its attention. In Russian, "Your mother was billy goat! And your father was an ugly dog!" He yells at it, not doing anything as he is basically a wee little man trapped in a bubble.

Unseen Valeriya is standing by the bubble eating dino's tree trunk like leg and ready to play lumber jack. Two invisble swinge go out, cutting the leg at the ankle.

Bartholemew bolts across to the other side of the camp taking a wild shot over the hovercraft at the Beast on the other side.

The beasts are not doing so well, having already been slashed and hacked a bit. One has several nasty gashes across it's body, the other has a burn mark from a Particle Beam and a nasty couple of gashes on it's legs. Neither are super happy, and one is kind of befuddled by the whole thing, its mind foggy with magic.

The allosaur he is tangling with isn't moving fast enough for Taz, maybe it needs more impetus to chase him. Taz steps forwards and roars again, "Come on ya dumb lizard!" As he brings that big blade up in a vicious semi-circle from ground towards the things belly and chest, then reverses his grip and slashes down again with more zinging of the electric motor as it whines, teeth on the chainsword wanting to hack into the allosaur as much as Taz does apparently, or so it would seem. He starts to step back again, "Come on!" Yep, broken record is Taz, he's going for volume, not expecting it to understand the vagaries of American challenges but still, perhaps intent can get across still, trying to draw the dinosaur away from the Truck so that when he kills it, it doesn't fall on the truck itself!

The monster (M_1) swings around as Taz tears into it again, but just can't seem to get out of the way of all of the attacks. Nor does it have the sense of mind to run or attack back. It just stands there being more and more frustrated... (Kind of like the GM).

Valeriya isnt detered by her dino's stout leggedness, got plent of swings left in her after all. It will surely fall before her arm gets tired.

Once across the campsite, Bart turns and kneels aiming for the creature's head that is going after Val and Ras. He takes his time lining up his shot, making sure its in his sights perfectly.

The Monster which Rasputin is distracting, and Valeriya is attacking from the veil of invisability is very confused. It jumps around trying to figure out just what is going on right now...

Johnson's on the move. To the cautious observer, staring directly at the far side of the camp, one might catch a glimpse of something or other amongst the fire's flickering shadows. The earth seems to leap beneath the walking allosaur, the one Taz has so carefully lead away from the vehicle, tendrils of supernatural glue erupting about its legs in a wild bukakke nightmare.

Rasputin yells out in Dragonese, "Thanks for da bubble, but mink Armor of Ithan is protectink me. Would someones be cancelink dhis, please!" He knees and takes aim at the creatures neck. Prepairing to spat it, if he can get the bubble off of him.

Two more swings for the confused Dinosaur from Valeriya. She can hardly blame its confusion. Looks like its reliving a day from her own childhood actually, fodd locked in magic bubbles and mean invisible attackers..

One dino (M_1) is now stuck firmly to the ground, safely away from the truck. Still kind of in range with Taz. Of course it is still very confused with befuddlement. The other is confused just by the pure fact it is can't seem to get to the thing in the bubble and something is cutting into it's legs. Taz is toe to toe with one beast, buzzing sword in hand. Valeryia his hidden but attacking one. Rasputin is trying to aim at the same one's head which Valeriyia is attack. And Bart has circled to help Val and Rasputin. Mean while, Johnson is lending some fun support from the veil of the shadows.

"More glue? Jeeze, the poor thing had no chance anyways..." Taz rumbles as the poor wounded allosaur leaks all sorts of blood and likely other not so nice to describe stuff all over the place at this point. With it's legs locked in place, and it confused and wounded... well Taz does the merciful thing, or so he thinks. No reason to step back, it can't follow, it can't fight back, so he lines up for two more slashes, that maybe unless he is completely slack, might finish off the wounded thing... and all that hide on it's back and sides should be fine since Taz was trying to gut it all along from neck to pelvis....

The monster which (M_1) is befuddled, stuck to the ground with glue and facing Taz seems all but lost now. It is trying to break free, which will take it a number of minutes. It tries and tries to break out but just can't make it yet... It is trying to run away now, but just can't do it.

Two more swings for the confused Dinosaur from Valeriya. She can hardly blame its confusion. Looks like its reliving a day from her own childhood actually, fodd locked in magic bubbles and mean invisible attackers..

The leg which Valeriya has been hammering on is looking very bad, but through perhaps sheer determination alone the creature has remained standing up, still confused as hell what is going on.

Bartholemew takes his shot at the creatures head thinking the time is just perfect. The particle beam blasting from the end of the rifle to...

Bartholemew's shot goes wide as the creature thrashes about.

The large beast which Bart apparenlty missed spins in a circle still very confused having been hit multiple times and having no idea where the shot is coming from. It just looks at the only thing which it can see, Rasputin, but just can't get it's head in the right posistion to attack from all of the dodging.

The bubble drops at Rasputin's request, and in the night there erupts a meaty slap of flesh on flesh, sounding decidedly like someone phoned in a prize fighter. Like so much in the battle, it happens invisibly, but with how cautious Johnson is one can bet he found a way to turn a dinosaur into a punching bag from a dozen meters away.

Rasputin having aimed and seeing the field goes down, he pulls the trigger on his pistol and strikes the creature's head firmly. Though, was that really a great idea on Rasputin's part?

Rasputin begins to aim again.

The dino's are both on the ropes but definitely not out. Both have taken loads of damage, but neither has shown signs of stopping yet. One is being taken mono-a-mono by Taz, the other has the four other hunters battling it.

Sometimes it's like shooting fish in a barrel, or so the saying goes, then sometimes a monkey throws a wrench in the machinery, or in this case a bit of tough dinosaur bone gets caught in the chain of Taz's chainsword and jams the motor which gums it all up until he can take some time to work it out, which, is not something he's going to do in the midst of battle. With a grunted, "Piss." Taz switches the huge sword to his left hand only and then steps forwards and uses his height to his advantage, winding up and then throwing two powerful blows into the dinosaurs ravaged midsection as it were, "Fall already, gettin' bored." He rumbles with a hidden frown behind his faceplate.

The massive beast which is being beaten like a bad joke, is just taking a pounding. Unable to defend its self and unable to run it just takes hit after hit....

Valeriya likes it when her prey cant dfrend itself. Maybe Taz would like to trade, but she's not really asking. She got hers just where she wants it as she takes what may be the last two swings at its very weakened leg.

The last blow from Valeriya's nasty swords have cut through the left leg of the great beast, it falls down, one leg crippled. It still thrashes around not out yet, but in massive amounts of pain and bellowing loudly making sure everyone and everything knows it.

Bartholemew getting frustrated with his aim once again lines up the shot, following the creatures head movements with the laser sight of his rifle. Mumbling to himself in a soothing tone as he takes a bead on the giant lizards head, "Easy girl, don't fret too much, it'll all be over reealll soon."

The large monster having now been fallen to a single leg and rolling on the ground tries to crawl away, injured and unable to really run or move it doesn't seem like it will make it far at the moment.

The invisible pounding continues. A voice breaks into the radio, a little strain catching the tone translated quite accurately by that voice box. It seems to have a knack -- at least for Dragonese. "I can /see/ why you people /fight/ like this. Quite envigorating!"

Rasputin pulls the trigger having spent all of this time aiming, and his weapons blurps, spews and goes dead... A long, long spew of cursing and yelling echos through the forest as Rasputin starts to scramble away himself the weapon dead...

"Oh yeah," oh the radio, again in Dragonese. "Big, slow, /dumb/. No wonder these things are extinct." The trash talk continues, as that meaty slapping sound keeps up.

Both of the nasty Dino's at this point are trying to flee, one is stuck and can't really. The other is short a leg and just can't go fast.

Johnson seems to like the sound of his own voice!

The well befuddled creature (M_1) near Taz is trying to flee, but for the first time has an action, maybe, of course it is confused....

The other creature is truely trying to flee, it is down a leg and is trying to excape. It is making some headway, but isn't moving too fast. It has reached the tree line now.

Bartholemew fires his rifle just uttering a soft "Shhhhhh..." at the confused thrashing legless lizard.

• WHAMP* As the shot streaks at the creature's head, it smacks hard but not enough to put it out of misery...

Valeriya unleashes a cry of triumph as the monster topples, its severed leg going one way and its bdy going the other. She isnt done with it though as she runs up to its head to take two swings at one of its eyes.

Rasputin quickly casts to spells, ignoring his damaged firearm. He flips a blue barrier of light infront of the creature to block its way, then tries to confuse it with his own Befuddling magic.

The poor thing is in agony, and while that doesn't concern Taz so very much, as in, not at all, it is not fighting back. The thing is essentially just staring confusedly at Taz and Taz is staring back at it. "What a joke... supposed to be a big predator... just a baby... little worthless baby thing... not scary at all." Yes, he is monologuing to the dinosaur, not that it can understand. "You were fun at first... but now... man... Johnson!" He suddenly yells, "Don't make them so pathetic next time!" And -finally- he lashes out with another punch at the allosaur, out of frustration more than anything.

The beast takes Taz's hit harshly, and still is trying to pull away. But it just can't make it.

The other beast, which is trying to flee gets very confused from the Befuddle spell and now stops, trying to understand which way to go....

"Looks in hand," Johnson's voice speaks over the radio, "Bart, break off. Let them finish cleanly with swords. Take position on south side, and keep an eye out for things attracted by the blood. I have north side." The meaty slapping ends as whatever Johnson was doing ceases, though there's a crash off in the woods. "My fault, it's me," Johnson speaks, muttering, "new killer spells and don't know when to turn off..."

Neither of the two beasts fights back, both are trying to flee from the engagement. Both want to live another day, but it doesn't seem likely either will make it out of the clearing today...

Bartholemew shakes his head, "Damn hard headed son of a.." With the call from Johnson he breaks off taking up guard on the south side of the camp. His thermal optics switched on to see better in the dark forest.

Valeriya mutters as her slash to the eye goes wide and decides to take a slice at the head instead.

Rasputin looks around and grabs the odd looking shotgun which is still fairly near him, and moves into posistion for a shot. "Please, if possible make headish neck shots. Must brink dhese down." He looks around, "Anyone seeink anythink else out dhere?"

Still the stubborn dinosaur refuses to fall... and so Taz simply looks at it for a few moments. With a shrug he calls out, "Little late for head shots on this one." And then he brings that massive club of a fist around in two more hopefully heavier blows to the stunned allosaurus body. Glue trapped legs make escape hard, and make it a lot less of a challenge in the end. Maybe that's why Taz is toying with the thing... sure the punches he's been landing would crush cars, kill people instantly, but they're still soft little love taps... but maybe that'll change as he just tries to finish this so he can find something else to do.

The Dino's are still trying to escape, though the one Taz is fighting is slowing down even more as he continues to beat it into oblivion.

Johnson tries something he's never done before. A glance over his shoulder, a point of his arm. And his eyes return forward, scanning the brush as a torrent of light connects him to Taz's poor target. A basketball-width beam of blinding light briefly tugs him from the shadows, backlighting the caster as he's staggered by the recoil, stumbling deeper into the woods as the magic connects the dots for him.

The two powerful bolts of magic fly through the forest, smack into the target of Taz's and it collapses, put out of its misery by deadly blinding magic...

The other creature, changes direction and now is headed west, but again it can't makie it very far, though suddnely, it just lashes out at the creature running near it. It can't see it, but it can smell it, and hear it. It lashes again, having made contact.... And misses completely....

Bartholemew scans the forest southward of the clearing, rifle at the ready for any other nasties that may be on the way from the smell of blood or the sound of all the commotion.

Valeriya blinks as the head lashes out at her, too sprised to bring her sword to defense in time. But as the teeth barely touch her magic protection she shrugs it offf and takes another swing at finishing it.

The swing of the invisible blade frees the creature from its mortal coil... The head is removed, the creature thrashes a bit, then goes silent. The forest is silent actually, save for the breathing of the living combatants...

Taz grunts as the thing finally falls down with a crash of two tons of dinosaur into the earth, "Bored." He rumbles to himself, coated in allosaur blood and gore up to the elbows and no doubt spattering all over his untouched armor. He looks off in the distance where the bolts came from, "Next time let it fight!" He shouts to Johnson, or where Johnson was anyways. He then goes to sit down and tinker with his chainsword to work out the jam from the bone that got lodged in the electronic engine. It's a good thing the sword is the large variety or it might be a little annoying to get things working properly with Taz's giant sized hands and fingers. "Any locals 'round these parts prolly laughin' their asses off." He rumbles quietly to himself.

The forest, now quiet has woken to a violent and bloody conflict. There is a sole cry of a bird, though not a bird. Something loud and piercing, a predator's cry far off, or not so far off. It is answered by a few different cries similar to the same sound. These sounds are coming from several different directions. Then they go silent. Nothing making noise in the forest. The two large beasts are now silent and the clearing is growing in light.

A voice cuts in on the radio. Johnson again, in that Dragon language he assumes people understand. "Motion, motion. I have two plus targets, due north. Taz-sized." Quick and simple, as the shadowy Johnson steps away from where he was last back-lit, easing slowly through the brush to a new position.

Valeriya frowns as she sees more dinosaurs. "Warm ups over, time for the main course." She notes as she draws her Wilks backup to her off hand and fires in a fluid motion before firing again with a bit better aim.

Valeriya frowns as she sees more dinosaurs. "Warm ups over, time for the main course." She notes as she draws her Wilks backup to her off hand. Sword in one hand large laser pisotl in the other she waits invisibly as the little red lizard she has with her skitter from a pocket to her gun wrist, becoming visible then fading again.

Bartholemew answers over the radio to Johnsons call, "I got it too!" rushing to the center of the clearing near the Hovertruck, G7. His Rifle leveled in the direction he spots movement, he waits with rifle trained on the commotion for the target to reveal itself.

Rasputin was just about to start cutting up the Allosaurus when all of the chatter hits forth, of course he still hasn't put on his helmet but has an Armor of Ithan spell on him still active. "What is goink on?" He yells, "What do you seeink? He starts to draw his pistol, but remembers and pulls out his Shotgun and crouches waiting for something.

Taz isn't concerned apparently with hostiles coming, he just works on getting that annoying piece of super strong dinosaur bone out of the casing of his chainsword. With a final snap and click he smiles, "Got it!" He announces in his deep voice and then tests the throttle of the chainsword with a trigger press. The electric motor fires up and the blades go zipping in a blur working easily again. "Better." Taz says before he stands up and looks around, "There's only one of me." He says, having perhaps caught the bit about 'taz-sized' or some such.

There is a screech out in the woods, then another, and another. Soon a choice of sounds, then again silence. This time, they are closer, much closer. And they were coming from all directions, and moving quickly...

Johnson crouches there, hand up to dial in the thermo on his goggles, peering left and then sweeping about, careful to not key infrared. Who knows what these creatures can see. A hump of ghille in the dark, he carefully whispers a spell to coat a swath of forest, five feet deep by forty feet long, to block off the northwest approach to his and Taz' position, effectively giving his 'back' a little protection.

Valeriya has her eyes west and her pistol there as well watching for what she caught a glimps of before. Her persistance pays for a predator is revealed heading her way. Having time the levels her pistol at it for the aimed shot to the head. Her lizard eyeing it for the same.

Bartholemew takes a shot out at the creatures in the forest, maybe he'll hit one, or knock a tree down on one. He uses the Hovercraft to cover his back for now.

The armored and concealed form of Johnson remains kneeling, hand up as he waits for the first creature to come into line of sight. Muttering slightly under his breath, a flashbulb pops off in the trees, to the North, silhouetting a pair of tall figures in sudden crystal detail out in the trees.

Seeing his companions starting to shoot seemingly wild into the forest Taz hmphs, "Taz-sized... right... so was them weak allo's." He mutters to nobody in particular as he flicks his helmet optics over to thermal since it is getting dark and he doesn't want to get caught out here blind. Otherwise, he just stands ready, waiting, protecting the dinosaur he got bored with earlier. "Protect the paychecks." He rumbles over the radio, expecting since that's why they're here, anything attacking them would want those too. Apparently, the thought that something would hunt -him- just is to alien to be comprehended. He stands ready, his harness feeding all them lovely drugs to his system to keep him supernaturally ready. Anything comes into sword range, it's getting a belly full of chainsaw. Seriously. Johnson better keep his head down if he's gonna be close to Taz. (Holding actions until hostile gets in range)

Havink dodge out of da way, the first monstery presents itself. It is about 10 feet tall, and about 10 feet long when running. It is has sharp features, razor claws on it its hind legs and sharp claws on hits forelegs. It is moving towards Bart at this point, but won't make it right away....

Rasputin steps away from the hovertruck and seeing the first of the possible targets, aims his Shotgun at it and fires. He is aiming at the neck of the damn thing, trying to save as much as possible. The weapon fires forth a gout of nasty looking condensed flame and fire, more like a plasma weapon than a shot gun...

Four creatures spring forth from the woods in the full light of the early morning. They are armed with sharp claws and teeth. They moving towards their prospective targets. M_3, M_5, M_4. Of course, one of them is now blind, it bumbled into a tree and is now slightly dazed as well as blinded... M_1.

Valeriya keeps her eye on her target west of her, her aim tracking its head carefully before she and her lizard fires at it.

The tall creatures are moving in for the kill, of course most of them don't understand that their 'prey' isn't helpless or even defenseless.... They are vicious...

The other blinding creature, stumbles into the Carpet of adhesion and falls into the mass of gooie icky sticky mass....

Bartholemew fires two rounds of Particle beam at the creature coming right at him. He's not concerned with saving it right now, this guy wants to eat him now and is a bit too fast and close.

There's a vague sense of motion, things flashing through the trees, as Johnson squeezes around Mount Taz and from the darkness springs a gossamer net, fired from between the tree and the savaged hulk of the dead allosaur, towards the bandit (m3) coming from beyond. Then turning, without watching to see if the first one struck, a second net flies from Johnson's arm towards the southern bogey (m5), perhaps giving a general impression of where he is but taking a chance for a walk-off win.

With shrill cries one dodges out of the way of Johnson's nasty net, the other screams out in panic as it is rolled into a magical net...

The net firing off to the rear gives Taz a target and the big juicer leaps over the allosaur corpse right at the charging beasty, "To slow!" He shouts as he wants to get in on the action. Fingers tighten on the grip of the huge sword as Taz swings it almost like a baseball bat before him, but not quite, scissoring it up and to the left before he yanks it down in a heavy overhanded slash down at the very same dinosaur, "These. Not scary." He rumbles to himself, generally sounding disgusted at what he thinks is just like a bar brawl or something!

The dino which Taz' has set sights on, is eaisly cut in half...

The creature which Bart has been trying to break down, closes on him finally and flips out it's hinkd claw and attempts to cut Bartholemew with a nasty looking claw...

The clawed talon misses Barth by a narrow mark. Then it screechs..

Rasputin eyes the creature trying to cutting into Bartholemew, "Gettink out of dhere Bart!" He is about make another called shot towards the neck of this creature trying to kill Bartholemew. But then changes to he one which is coming towards him, and where he ponders Val might be located. He won't shoot into the melee of Bart and the creature, bad idea...

Monster 3, is now dead, in two halfs...

Monster 5 has dodged a great deal, and is magic netted.

Monster 4, well it just got shot in the neck again and now sees the crazy magical fire wielding Dwarf as food and will make its way that direction. Monster 1 is blinded and smackes the damn tree again, it screems again this time a paniced call....

Valeriya frowns as her target still stands, its head strong. Catching Taz's success though she gains understanding of the dino's capacity and turns her aim to the one closing in on Bart which took some hits already.

The combat is going very well for the group. One creature is stuck in a magic net, another is in a carpet of adhesion and a third is dead, cut in half. The group is doing alright as well, though, one is now charging at the Dwarf and another is in melee range with Bart.

As Bart dodges the vicious claw attack of the lizard he takes one last attempt to put it down with a shot of his rifle.

Johnson's disabled three, but they're not dead yet! And more could be trouble. Muttering into the radio in Dragonese, "If you have a silence spell..." he steps forward, raising an arm to reveal his location once more with an incredible rainbow plume of multicolored sparks at the raptor trying to maul Valeriya, before throwing a phantom punch back at the blind critter making all the noise.

Taz sighs as the dinosaur falls in one slash, making the second he was going to give it completely redundant, instead he looks around, spotting his companions in trouble or soon to be in trouble. The juicer takes a few running steps and then launches himself into the air cuz like the hulk, jumping is faster than running for Taz. He lands, takes a few more steps, and jumps again... flying through the air he soars and then lands with a heavy -THUD- right in between Rasputin and the dinosaur charging him. "Sorry paycheck, to risky ta let ya brawl inna melee." He grins as he readies himself to face yet another dinosaur in hand to hand combat!

Rasputin sits down and begins to charge up his weapon with magical energy. He has nerves of steel apparently, focusing his energy as the nasty Dino is coming towards him.

Monster 5 still stuck in net....

Monster 4 now charges Rasputin and attacks him.

Monster 1 tries to flee, and is screaming the entire way.

One dinosaur on her side down, the other en route past her to Rasputin.. no Taz.. Still has to get past her first, her invisible blade slicing to finish what she started at its head.

The blade flies through the air and the head falls to the ground as the body keeps on going and crashes into the ground...

Let us see, Monster 5 is neted and can't move, Monster 1 is running away blindly through the forest, and Monster 2 is stuck to a carpet. Rasputin, Valeriya, Taz and Bart are all standing around two new bodies and Johnson, believe it or not is kind of by himself, but in no real danger.

A magical netted monster begins to wail some sort of death cry and just strugles in the net.

Johnson plunges into the brush, aimed at the fleeing screecher, muttering as he can't see a net working its way through the brush. An energy field springs up, its pale blue light visible in the trees as Johnson approaches the blinded and very temporarily trapped raptor, letting him close the distance in the brush.

The now trapped Raptor is screaming loudly as it slams into the barrier. It begins to attack it, but little chance it will break out before it is too late.

The second beast which is trapped continues to try and free itself...

As the dinosaur gets chopped down by something he can't even see Taz grunts softly and shakes his head, looking around he starts to stalk over towards the nearest still living dinosaur that he can see, which happens to be the one tangled in the net. Muttering to himself as he starts to walk, "Damned mages make everything so boring..." He fumes, typical juicer... or just typical Taz perhaps, but then he was the one who was happy going head to head with an allosaur.

Rasputin having reloaded his TW Shotgun, he heads into the direction of the stuck creature, hoping to put it out of its torment and to stop it calling assistance.

Valeriya turns her pistol to the raptor tangled in adhesive carpeting her lizard ready to spit again as well and the both fire.

The trapped creatures all begin to scream more, calling for help or pleaing for their lives perhaps? Who knows...

The creature being approached by Taz, fights to get free, and is getting closer but still isn't near freedom.

Johnson's jogging slows to a walk as his body twists invisibly, a short tree limb catching his ghille suit and snapping as he passes by. The field drops, soon followed by a net flying on gossamer wing, and an invisible pummeling from ten feet away.

The creature tries to spring to life as the field drops...

Rasputin and some how amazingly gets free, as it stumbles forward an invisible hand smacks it hard...

The creature stuck to the ground with the icky carpet squirms....

Taz continues over towards the netted dinosaur, covering the distance easily since he's not having to dodge, shoot, swing, or the like. Eyeing the netted keening critter Taz says, "Not sporting I know but..." Then he lifts his chainsword up and takes careful aim to drive the sword down past the net hopefully in two rapid strikes.

Rasputin puts his weapon and aims at the neck of the creature, trying to decapitate it.

Rasputin pulls the trigger and cleanly fires, still not penatrating as much as he would like.

Valeriya lines up another shot at the trapped raptor, having more time to take the called shot at the head this time and save some hide for the boss.

"Fiesty little bastard," Johnson murmurs, and does the next best thing. He reaches out, pointing his right hand at the fleeing raptor, and the earth springs up beneath it with a thousand tiny sticky tendrils, snaring the blinded bouncing glory. He tosses one last haymaker at it from afar, as his strength seeps from him disappointingly.

The poor Raptor which Johnson is almost torturing is now stuck to he ground as well as the aforementioned blinded... It whimpers....

The creature Rasputin and Val are shooting also whimpers....

Taz looks down at soup o' raptor, "That actually looks tasty..." He rumbles to himself but then shakes himself out of his reverie and looks over towards the pinned raptors and frowns. "Oh come -on- man!" He shouts and then slings his sword onto it's hooks built into the back of his armor as he starts over towards the nearest downed raptor. "This isn't even sporting... thought this was like, a hunt and stuff..." He cracks his knuckles as he walks, flexing his hands, "Should break it's neck or something, put it down easy... no point in torture, just an animal..." he rambles.

Rasputin looks back to Taz then to the creature, "Mink tryink, tough hide even like this da." He calls his shot again at the neck and fires, "And have to get as much leathers as mink can, da!"

Valeriya takes another head shot at her adhered target, joined with her lizard for its next.

Johnson laughs, the translator on his armor giving the sound a draconic -- and decidedly creepy -- twist. There's an explosion in the trees, followed by a second, and a strobe lights him over and over again with arms high. Johnson is gloating over the fallen screeching runner. Not hurting it, but assaulting its senses as it has no place to run.

The two last creatures are put down, with a few lethal blasts of weapon fire and chopping of a sword. Both not so cleanly decapitated. In the early morning light the small clearing now looks like a battle field awash with blood, gore and a few scorch marks. Rasputin looks around and shakes his head, "Da, dis is more likink dhat happenink last time."

Johnson stares when Taz steps in to decapitate his new toy, but doesn't interfere other than releasing the carpet after the first whack, to let the terrified and blinded creature spurting blood fend for itself against a chainsaw-wielding giant. "See? Sporting," he murmurs, walking a dozen feet away into the trees to collect himself, resuming his watch for further creatures. "Cut fast, Mink."

With the dinosaurs dispatched Taz looks towards the truck and then the dinosaurs and then the truck again before he hmmms, "Think you're runnin' outta space bossman inna truck." He himself didn't make it to the two stuck ones before they were dispatched by the others. So with them down, Taz moves to start cleaning himself off, precious water from the pond nearby being used to wash away blood, gore, and bone chips from his armor and his sword. "Not bad." He rumbles to himself, "Can finally get some rounds for Bertha, used like, a minute of charge off my sword out of sixty... not bad, little boring but... not bad." He doesn't need to catch his breath of course, not even remotely winded, drug charged freak that he is essentially. "Given size of beasts, size of territory... not likely run into more predators." He continues talking to himself in his deep rumbling voice.

Rasputin looks around at the battle field and in Dragonese, "I have to find another weight to be huntink these creatures. Dhough we did do a god job. I'll start cutting them up, da?

Rasputin looks around at the battle field and in Dragonese, "I have to find another weight to be huntink these creatures. Dhough we did do a god job." He looks around to everyone, "Everyone OK, da? If so I'll start cutting them up." He looks around, "I think Johnson, Bart and Val, if you would be so kind as to keep guard." He looks over at Taz and as he is cleaning up, "I know you joke about mule costink more, but I will need your strength to pack this all up. I will be hurring."

Given the habit of more guest to arrive valeriya isnt about to cancel her spells early so she remains invisible. But to help her team mates her red lizard does leave its place on her wrist to perch on her shoulder, floating in mid air as she walks around. "Guard it is." She confirms to Rasputin, looking about at the massacre and starting to patrol the perimeter

Johnson stays off on his own, becoming visible again and spotless in his armor. Never touched, never even approached, the shaggy mage watches the forest. "Was it this easy, last time?"

Taz looks over at Rasputin, "Dig pit next time, lure them in, jump pit or fly over. Dinosaur run into pit is stuck cannot get out. Kill easy without harming to much animal, more value." He shrugs, "Next time, bring shovels." He suggests. He looks over at the dwarf butchering the dinosaurs and those six foot broad shoulders roll in another shrug, "Sure." He rumbles as he finishes washing off and making that pristine clear water murky with detritus of death essentially. He smacks his hands together to shake off water and then turns to head back over towards the butchering so that he can cart off the stuff that's wanted. "We go home soon yes?"

Rasputin has been working for hours even, making mistakes, making successes, but overall cutting up everything in site, packaging it up for the truck for shippment back. "Da, I might try that next time. Of course, one never knows whats in the area without more tracking." He chuckles, "Need to learn how to be doink dhat." He rambles off in Dragonese, "I was going to plan to stay out here a little more, but think da truck will be almost full by the time we load up all of this skin, meat and bone." He looks around. He has several rolls of skin and lots of weight in meat.

Eventually Val's invisibility wears off and she patrols in clear view.

"Or buy gas," Johnson suggests, in Dragonese. "Rent a helicopter, use infrared to find large animals or packs from altitude. Drop a nerve agent, collect your prize in sealed armor. A little magic scrub before you pack them up, and you can bring home whole specemins. Keep killing packs until you find the color and consistency you want." He laughs into the radio, noting, "Just don't bring anyone looking for sport."

Taz rumbles, "Hunting, is sport."

Rasputin looks over at Taz as the time winds by and it is now well into mid day. Rasputin has been working hard at choping, hacking, cutting and packing. He has basically laid most of the entrails into a large pile on the south side of the clearing. "Mink should hurries beforink something more comes." He looks around, "I think I have just about enoughs, do we move and find new spot, or are all of you done with Dinos for dis trip?"

Valeriya shrugs, stopping her patrol to look at Rasputin. "I could do this nearly indefinitly at this rate. if you want to get more you wont get a complaint from me. More for you means more for me."

Taz has been moving stuff that's been gathered up and put them into the truck and the like. He hasn't just been idly doing nothing just it takes time waiting for a dwarf to butcher two ton animals. "I can aim for the head if ya want. Can stay if ya want. Ya hired for week, got 5 days left." He rumbles in answer, "Choice is yours." He says simply, "Got plenty of e-clips for my sword, can use gun if ya want me to but... less efficient." He then also throws in, "Can punch them to death too, break bones some, rupture internal organs, not so much hide damage..."

"This is a job," Johnson snaps. "It makes money. More money if our equipment remains undamaged. Once armor starts getting damaged my end only increases if you die and don't need to be paid. Sport is what fat, rich people do when they have enough to eat and they're bored. I'm hungry, Taz. I'm hungry and I'm not in a mood for a fair fight." He glances at Rasputin, peering at the Dwarf, and wonders, "Could you fit more in the truck? And still have enough space for our sporting friend?" That last is said with some amusement in his translated voice.

Rasputin thinks about all of this, tugging his beard and noticing he is covered head to toe in blood and entrails. He shakes his head, casts a spell and *POOF* he is clean from head to toe again. He also starts to cast it a few times on the truck and outer packages and paper. "I say we head back. I will get market for dis product. Perhaps talk to city or charity group, sell some to refugee's?" He looks around, "At a minor profit to helpink dhem." He ponders a moment, "Or military." He nods, "Then, depending on what I get, I'll post another add try again. Get someone with tracking, use more traps. Find non-preditors, or somethink."

Taz looks over at Johnson and smirks, "Don't even joke little mage. I don't fight fair either." He rumbles with some amusement at that. "I did what was asked of me, did my job. You want to pay me to shut up, then pay up, otherwise, I talk all I want." He smiles broadly at the armored mage.

Valeriya glares at Johnson and Tza as Rasputin makes his decision to go. "Don;t start anything I'd have to finish you two." She warns with a chiding tone before lending a hand to load the truck.

Rasputin looks around and inspects the hover truck again and looks back to everyone, "Da, so, shall we makink da long trip back? Dhas only a quick trip, dhich was good. But net getting back till dhery late." He loooks around, "OK?"

"Yes," Johnson agrees, and he peers skyward, before hoofing it towards the truck. "I'm afraid too much time in this armor is making me just a touch cranky."

Taz laughs again at what Val says and winks at her, not that she can see it behind his faceplate but he still does it. "Promises promises." He rumbles before he looks at Rasputin, "You're the boss." He rumbles and moves to jump into the back of the truck.

Kingsdale - Steel Street

A mainly residential area, the northern section of steel street houses places to live for the thousands of workers that fill the factories to the south. There are many, many, many small side streets here that bear homes of every feasable shape, size and color. The only constant is that most of them are well looked after. The 'average joe' of Kingsdale lives here -- the non-augmented, relatively normal human-ish creature that has an average, blue-collar job and works to keep his or her family afloat with a half decent roof over their heads. These houses almost all have grassy yards and the sight of children, human and not-so-human, playing is very common. There are several schools in the area too and by and large this is a plesant and thriving community.

There are many small apartment buildings littering the place too, the best one of which is Raleigh's Retreat, a sprawling 300 unit complex that is clean and a very safe place to live. Not too expensive either, it is a popular place to live for younger and single members of the community. The streets here are generally two lane, and traffic is surprisingly fluid except during morning and evening rush-hour where one needs to wait a bit. Warm breezes blow trees and grass and one could almost forget that they live in a city. The ever-present shape of Kingsdle's wall changes that, though.

After about 7 hours of high speed driving Rasputin figures out how to get home and flies into town late at night and pulls up to his home.

Rasputin parks and climbs out, "Da, so we are mink home. Da? I will be sellink, but in da mean time." He hands out credit sticks to everyone, "Dis is the 7500 credits. When I am selling off everything, I'll make sure to contact you with additiona, da?"

Taz takes the credits without a problem, putting it somewhere in his armor like a pouch on his belt or something or maybe tucked into the armor at his chest. He looks at Johnson and grins, flipping his face plate up, "Betcha 7500 credits I beatcha in an arm wrestlin' match." He teases the mage, new fun thing to do when bored and he was bored for a long while.

Valeriya nods, stepping up to accept the chip. "Fine by me. I'll be around regularly until then." She states firmly with a clam smile. The impression she likes getting paid should be clear.

Johnson takes a cue from the Steve Miller Band -- takes his money and runs! At least he should, though the gentle giant catches his fancy. He eyes Taz at the challenge, before snapping his fingers. "I tell you what, Tiny. A coin flip, Even chances. Seventy five hundred credits. What do you say?"

"What, so you can magic the coin while it's flippin? Or use a trickster same sided coin?" Taz laughs at that, "Ok how about this. Lets go down to the dregs, and see who can kill how many of them monsters I be hearin' 'bout in the junkyard, most kills wins?"

Johnson points at Valeriya. "She'll tell you if I magic anything. I'll tell you if she magics anything. And if we go to the junkyard, we'll both die. Nothing you have can kill any of them."

Taz gets sidetracked, unkillable monsters? I think not! "What would we need ta kill 'em?" He asks curiously now, looking thoughtful as he looks towards the junkyard, or at least the direction of the junk yard from here. He even stands up on his tippy toes as if that will make a difference. "Like, silver bullets like inna old movies or somethin?"

Valeriya shakes her head at Johnson , showing disinterest. "Leave me out of your squables unless there's money in it for me." She states before considering the early afternoon and acceptable weather. "And if there is money in it for me, you can find me at Moes, enjoying a beer."

"You need," Johnson explains in Dragonese, "Immunity to psychic assault. Or high resistance. A means to see the invisible. Not magic, not heat, just pure invisible. A magic or psychic weapon, or exorcism. And a lot of friends who have similar talents. Or an army of cannon fodder to distract them while you slay them alone from hiding."

Rasputin is takink package after package off of the truck, not able to use Taz's help as the stairs and hallways are just too small. He comes back up, with the three all talking about something or other, "Da, what are you all talkink about?" He says pausing to take a breater." Of course it is interesting to note, Rasputin is carrying stacks of meat which most likely weight at least a hundred pounds each. He is simply staking up two or three onto his shoulder and into the store he goes.

Taz looks thoughtful, "Needa magic weapon, and some kinda... I dunno, magic goggles or somethin', like them Techno-mages use..." He hmmms, "Am perty resistant to that mind shit. Magic huh?" He hmmms again then wrinkles his nose slightly, "Fuck, that's no fun..." He looks at Valeriya as she walks off, yep, he watches that ass, I mean that's why she wears hoof shoes right? "Got any spare magic swords? Maybe, can make payments? Work for yah till I pay off?" He tears his gaze reluctantly from Valeriya's bottom to look back at Johnson.

"If it was easy," Johnson replies, "it would have been done. You're great at breaking things. I can't do what you do. Maybe in a few decades of study, I'll find a way." He snaps his fingers -- no mean feat in armor -- and points at Taz as he begins walking away. "Hey, there's a thought. Maybe, in a few decades of study, we'll find a way for you to kill those entities?" He chuckles softly, and wanders away towards whatever home he might have.

Taz shrugs, "Six years, find a way before then." He rumbles.

Rasputin shakes his head, and continues his work unloading the truck he has to return. He wonders if he can get a reduction in cost of rent... Doubts it.